Cessna 195 accident near Lancaster, New York, August 26, 2015
On August 26, 2015 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1951 Cessna 195, registered N1516D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Lancaster, New York (Buffalo-Lancaster Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive application of brake pressure, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 2015 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, New York · Buffalo-Lancaster Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195 A, built 1951 · all 195s on the register
- Registration
- N1516D · no longer on the register · serial 7738
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he had just completed a circuit in the airport traffic pattern. During the flare, the airplane began to "settle" when the wind speed decreased. He then applied engine power in order to arrest the descent. The airplane veered left and landed with the nose of the airplane pointing to the left side of the runway. During the landing roll, the pilot was concerned with exiting the paved portion of the runway and applied brake pressure. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted on the paved portion of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Abrupt maneuver during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,707 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 23, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 3,351 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R-755B2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BQR Lancaster NY at 8:00 pm
- Destination: BQR Lancaster NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; scat at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:54 pm from BUF, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 5, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.