Cessna 180G and Maule M-5-210C mid-air collision near Tyonek, Alaska, June 2, 1984
On June 2, 1984 at about 6:10 am local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 180G (N4708U) and Maule M-5-210C (N9297E), were involved in a mid-air collision near Tyonek, Alaska. 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1984 · about 6:10 am local time
- Place
- Tyonek, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 180G · all 180Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4708U · no longer on the register · serial 18051408
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Maule M-5-210C · all M-5-210Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9297E · registry record · serial 6203C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 180G final · quoted from the NTSB record
TAKING OFF FROM AN ABANDONED ROAD NEAR A FISHING CAMP, THE CESSNA TURNED BACK AND DESCENDED WITH POWER ON OVER HIS DEPARTURE POINT, HEADING INTO THE SUN WHICH WAS LOW ON THE HORIZON. IT COLLIDED LEFT WING TO LEFT WING WITH THE MAULE WHICH HAD CLIMBED OUT AT A STEEP ANGLE FROM THE SAME ROAD. THE MAULE PILOT STATED THAT HE SAW THE CESSNA IMMEDIATELY AFTER LOWERING THE NOSE OF HIS AIRCRAFT, AND INITIATED AN UNSUCCESSFUL AVOIDANCE MANEUVER.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Maule M-5-210C final · quoted from the NTSB record
TAKING OFF FROM AN ABANDONED ROAD NEAR A FISHING CAMP, THE CESSNA TURNED BACK AND DESCENDED WITH POWER ON OVER HIS DEPARTURE POINT, HEADING INTO THE SUN WHICH WAS LOW ON THE HORIZON. IT COLLIDED LEFT WING TO LEFT WING WITH THE MAULE WHICH HAD CLIMBED OUT AT A STEEP ANGLE FROM THE SAME ROAD. THE MAULE PILOT STATED THAT HE SAW THE CESSNA IMMEDIATELY AFTER LOWERING THE NOSE OF HIS AIRCRAFT, AND INITIATED AN UNSUCCESSFUL AVOIDANCE MANEUVER.
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 for the Cessna 180G from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 486 hours in all; 486 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 376 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,656 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 1984; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Theodore River AK
- Destination: ANC Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:18 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Maule M-5-210C from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 243 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 189 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 335 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 1984; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-D33A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Theodore River AK at 10:09 pm
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.