Cessna 182A accident near Lancaster, New York, July 14, 1989
On July 14, 1989 at about 4:05 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N6171B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lancaster, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL, AND AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1989 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N6171B · no longer on the register · serial 34171
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 182 HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FROM THE AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT COULD NOT LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD, HE MADE A LEFT TURN AND HIT AN ABUTMENT. THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER AND THE PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. AN ON-SCENE INSPECTION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM SHOWED THERE WAS WATER IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL. THE PILOT REPORTED GETTING 1/2 TEASPOON OF WATER OUT OF THE RIGHT FUEL TANK DURING THE PRE-FLIGHT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,450 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,895 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 27, 1989; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lancaster NY at 4:05 pm
- Destination: D-42 Clarence Center NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N6171B 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.