Which commuter flight was forced to land in a cornfield in '96 or '97? Last night a friend's wife was describing her experience as a child being on a flight that encountered a flock of Canadian geese, where at least one engine was lost to a bird strike. I suspect both engines may have been lost, or at least compromised, because she said the plane ultimately landed in a cornfield. She said the oxygen masks deployed, and she used the inflatable slide to deplane.

If her memory is correct the flight departed Indianapolis, IN, bound for Trenton, NJ. Based on her age, we thought the flight was probably in 1996 or 1997. She said it was a "small plane", but it was certainly a commercial flight, and I believe a jet (not a turboprop). She described two seats straddling the aisle.

Her memory of the event emphasized surreal, sensory details, so I suspect some uncertainty among the facts useful for finding this flight.

TL;DR here are the useful details:


Probably 1996 or 1997 
Departed Indianapolis, IN 
(Update 2.20.2018: She confirms it was Indianapolis International)
Intended arrival in Trenton, NJ 
Engine(s) out, presumably due to bird strikes (Canadian geese) 
Emergency landing in a field (possibly a cornfield)
(Update 2.20.2018: This was a Pennsylvania cornfield)


To my surprise I've been unable to Google more information, so I'm hoping someone here has a better angle on researching this interesting flight.
From the Los Angeles Times newspaper, Jan. 21, 1989.


  BUENA VISTA, Colo. — A commuter plane carrying 26 passengers lost power Friday and made an emergency landing in a cornfield, but no one was injured, authorities said. Airline officials had not determined what caused the engines of the United Express plane, a Convair 580 twin-engine propjet, to shut down.


Here is the link: LA Times