Cessna 180C accident near Clarence, New York, March 14, 1992
On March 14, 1992 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180C, registered N7019, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clarence, New York (Potoczak airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION TO LAND WITH A DEFECTIVE SKI LANDING GEAR ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, WHICH RESULTED IN A NOSE OVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 1992 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Clarence, New York · Potoczak · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180C · all 180Cs on the register
- Registration
- N7019 · no longer on the register · serial 50881
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, HE PUMPED THE SKIS DOWN. HE NOTICED THE SKI TIPS WERE LOW. HE STATED THAT HE DECIDED TO DO A TOUCH AND GO LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE RIGHT SKI DUG INTO THE SNOW AND DIRT, CAUSING THE RIGHT GEAR TO COLLAPSE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED ABOUT 200 FEET AND NOSED OVER.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,732 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,732 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 1991; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L16 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Maxwell Bennett Assoc.
The flight
- Departed from: 0G0 Lockport NY at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,300 ft; not recorded at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Observation at 7:00 pm from BUF, 999 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.