Cessna 182C accident near Clarence Center, New York, October 10, 2003
On October 10, 2003 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182C, registered N8511T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clarence Center, 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 delayed go-around decision. A factor in this accident was the night light condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 2003 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Clarence Center, 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 182C · all 182Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8511T · registry record · serial 52411
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was on final approach to land on runway 18, a 2,230-foot-long, 55-foot-wide, lighted grass runway. The pilot stated he added full flaps when he thought he had the runway "made;" however, it became apparent that the airplane was "high and long." The pilot initiated a go-around, added power and raised the flaps to "two notches;" however, the airplane settled into the trees located at the end of the runway. The pilot further said that he was not certain how high the airplane was above the trees when he initiated the go-around because it was dark. The pilot reported 1,546 hours of total flight experience, which included 970 hours in make and model, and 11 hours in "night" conditions.
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
- Flight time: 1,546 hours in all; 970 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,436 as pilot in command; 110 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 24, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,015 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D46 Clarence Center NY at 10:45 pm
- Destination: D46 Clarence Center NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,230 ft by 55 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 26,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from BUF, 8 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.