Embraer EMB-110P1 accident near Potsdam, New York, April 12, 2008
On April 12, 2008 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Embraer EMB-110P1, registered N62CZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Potsdam, New York (Potsdam Municipal Airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 2008 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Potsdam, New York · Potsdam Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Embraer EMB-110P1 · all EMB-110P1s on the register
- Registration
- N62CZ · registry record · serial 110.388
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After the airplane descended below the cloud deck during an instrument approach, the pilot configured the airplane for landing by reducing the airspeed to 100 knots and extending full flaps. As the airplane crossed the runway threshold, the pilot initiated the landing flare and the plane veered to the left. The pilot then "over corrected" to the right, resulting in the right wingtip contacting the runway. Shortly afterward, the left main landing gear contacted the turf off of the left side of the runway and collapsed as the airplane impacted the mud. Examination of the airplane and accident site revealed four white scratch marks approximately 20 feet in length, observed on the first 1,000 feet of the runway, left of the centerline. Approximately 15 feet forward of the point where the scratch marks ended, off the left side of the runway in the mud, was a trench the width of the main landing gear. No preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane were reported by the pilot. The weather reported at the time of the accident included calm winds, 1 and 1/2 miles visibility with mist, overcast clouds at 300 feet, temperature 2 degrees C, and a dew point of 1 degree C.
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 in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,530 hours in all; 821 in this make and model; 3,400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 29, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24,924 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 25, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 13,007 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: P&W Canada PT6A-60A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W Canada PT6A-60A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Now
The flight
- Departed from: SYR Syracuse NY at 11:57 am
- Destination: PTD Potsdam NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 3,705 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.54 inHg
- Observation at 1:36 pm from MSS, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.