Cessna 195A and Cessna 182D mid-air collision near Akron, Iowa, September 9, 1984
On September 9, 1984 at about 1:50 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 195A (N19JW) and Cessna 182D (N8783X), were involved in a mid-air collision near Akron, Iowa (Municipal airport). 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
- September 9, 1984 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Akron, Iowa · Municipal · 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 195A · all 195As on the register
- Registration
- N19JW · no longer on the register · serial 7767
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 182D · all 182Ds on the register
- Registration
- N8783X · no longer on the register · serial 18253183
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 195A final · quoted from the NTSB record
N19JW, A CESSNA 195A AND N8783X, A CESSNA 182 DEPARTED MAPLETON, IA, AT APRX 0805 ON VFR FLT TO AKRON, IA, TO ATTEND A FLY-IN BREAKFAST. THE TWO ACFT DID NOT TRAVEL THE SAME ROUTE OF FLIGHT TO AKRON. N19JW CROSSED OVER THE MIDPOINT OF THE ARPT ON CROSSWIND THEN TURNED LEFT DOWNWIND AND LEFT BASE APRX 2 MILES FROM THE APPROACH END OF RWY 34. N8783X INTERCEPTED THE FINAL APPROACH TO RWY 34 AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. WITNESSES SAW BOTH ACFT WHEN THEY WERE TWO MILES SSE OF THE ARPT. N19JW WAS ABOVE AND SLIGHTLY BEHIND N8783X. WHEN THE ACFT WERE APRX 450 FT FROM THE END OF THE RWY THE PROP FROM N19JW CONACTED THE WING OF N8783X. THE PLT OF N19JW RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES AND A PAX IN N8783X RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. EXAMINATION OF BOTH ACFT WRECKAGES AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE RADIOS IN EITHER ACFT WERE NOT ON THE SAME FREQUENCY AND THE CORRECT RADIO FREQ FOR AN UNCONTROLLED ARPT WAS NOT SELECTED.
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 Cessna 182D final · quoted from the NTSB record
N19JW, A CESSNA 195A AND N8783X, A CESSNA 182 DEPARTED MAPLETON, IA, AT APRX 0805 ON A VFR FLT TO AKRON, IA, TO ATTEND A FLY-IN BREAKFAST. THE TWO ACFT DID NOT TRAVEL THE SAME ROUTE OF FLIGHT TO AKRON, N19JW CROSSED OVER THE MIDPOINT OF THE ARPT ON CROSSWIND THEN TURNED LEFT DOWNWIND AND LEFT BASE APRX 2 MILES FROM THE APPROACH END OF RWY 34. N8783X INTERCEPTED THE FINAL APPROACH TO RWY 34 AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. WITNESSES SAW BOTH ACFT WHEN THEY WERE TWO MILES SSE OF THE ARPT. N19JW WAS ABOVE AND SLIGHTLY BEHIND N8783X. WHEN THE ACFT WERE APRX 450 FT FROM THE END OF THE RWY THE PROP FROM N19JW CONTACTED THE WING OF N8783X. THE PLT OF N19JW RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES AND A PAX IN N8783X RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. EXAMINATION OF BOTH ACFT WRECKAGES AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE RADIOS IN EITHER ACFT WERE NOT ON THE SAME FREQUENCY AND THE CORRECT RADIO FREQ FOR AN UNCONTROLLED ARPT WAS NOT SELECTED.
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 195A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 4,200 hours in all; 25 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 1981
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755A2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MEY Mapleton IA at 1:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,200 ft by 24 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from SUX, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 182D from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 317 hours in all; 317 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,484 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1983; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MEY Mapleton IA at 1:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,200 ft by 24 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.