Cessna 180L accident near Vestal, New York, September 21, 1991
On September 21, 1991 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 180L, registered N4110, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vestal, New York. 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
IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN A POWER LOSS DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1991 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Vestal, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180L · all 180Ls on the register
- Registration
- N4110 · no longer on the register · serial 50667
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CRUISING AT 3500 FEET WHEN HE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS. DURING A FORCED LANDING, HE STRUCK A DITCH AND THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER. THE ENGINE WAS RUN SATISFACTORILY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF A CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART REVEALED THE PILOT WAS OPERATING IN CONDITIONS OF MODERATE ICING PROBABILITY WITH CRUISE POWER.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 170 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 113 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,143 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 17, 1991; 6 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: N30 Honesdale PA at 6:50 pm
- Destination: N17 Endicott NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 55 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from BGM, 11 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.