Cessna 195 accident near Livermore Falls, Maine, August 27, 2016
On August 27, 2016 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1948 Cessna 195, registered N4352V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Livermore Falls, Maine (Bowman Field). 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 failure to maintain directional control during landing roll out.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2016 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Livermore Falls, Maine · Bowman Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195 UNDESIGNAT, built 1948 · all 195s on the register
- Registration
- N4352V · registry record · serial 7261
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot stated that the tail-wheel equipped airplane started to veer left during the landing roll out in calm wind conditions. In an attempt to bring the airplane back to the runway centerline, the tail of the airplane started to rise off the runway and he "got too aggressive" with the brakes. The airplane nosed-over on to its back, which resulted in substantial damage of the vertical stabilizer, left wing tip, and fuselage. The pilot said there were no mechanical issues with the airplane or engine that would have contributed to the accident.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 768 hours in all; 593 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 1, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,994 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2015; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs L4 /R755-7 (piston); 593 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LEB Lebanon NH at 2:45 pm
- Destination: B10 Livermore Falls ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,201 ft by 120 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N4352V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.