Cessna 195 accident near Lancaster, New York, June 4, 2015
On June 4, 2015 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1950 Cessna 195, registered N9818A, 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; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of directional control and subsequent ground loop due to an underinflated right tire, which was a result of foreign object debris puncturing the tire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 2015 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, New York · Buffalo-Lancaster Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195 UNDESIGNAT, built 1950 · all 195s on the register
- Registration
- N9818A · no longer on the register · serial 31421
- 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, an annual inspection was completed on the airplane the day prior to this flight, so he planned to remain in the traffic pattern. During the first landing after touchdown, the pilot reported that the airplane began drifting to the right. He attempted to correct with the left rudder and brake, but once the tailwheel touched down the airplane quickly veered to the right, departed the runway, and ground looped. After the ground loop, the airplane stopped and the pilot shutdown the airplane without further incident. During a post-flight examination, the pilot stated that the right main tire was one half to three quarters underinflated. After further inspection, the pilot identified a small metal object that resembled a finishing nail in the right main tire and within one hour of the accident, the tire was completely flat. The pilot reported that both tires and associated pressures were checked and verified according to the airplane maintenance manual prior to flight. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations, with the exception of the right main tire. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left side of the fuselage.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Debris/dirt/foreign object › Effect on equipment
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,500.4 hours in all; 267 in this make and model; 5.5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,471 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 15, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,939 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755-A2 (piston); 2,939 hours total
- Operator: Tesco INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BQR Lancaster NY at 5:50 pm
- Destination: BQR Lancaster NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,199 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,800 ft; a few clouds at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from KBUF, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on July 10, 2015. 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 | Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 1 – Left Side Fuselage (Courtesy of Operator) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 2 – Punctured Right Tire (Courtesy of Operator) | PDF, 1 page | 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.