Cessna C-172 accident near Clarence Center, New York, July 2, 1991
On July 2, 1991 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna C-172, registered N733FB, was destroyed in an accident near Clarence Center, New York (Potoczak airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING A HEAVY WEIGHT TAKEOFF, RESULTING IN A STALL AND LANDING IN ROUGH TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1991 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Clarence Center, New York · Potoczak · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-172
- Registration
- N733FB · no longer on the register · serial 17268252
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LOADED THE AIRPLANE WITH 3 PASSENGERS AND STARTED A TAKEOFF ON THE SHORT, GRASS RUNWAY. THE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 86 DEGREES F. AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, THE PILOT SAID HE FELT THE AIRPLANE MIGHT NOT CLEAR TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. HE MADE A TURN TO AVOID THE TREES AND STALLED THE AIRPLANE. HE LANDED IN ROUGH TERRAIN AND DESTROYED THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE OF 152 HOURS AND 30 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 152 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 75 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Augusta Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,230 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.