Cessna 182 accident near Marion, Iowa, January 1, 1984
On January 1, 1984 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N3641C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marion, Iowa (Cedar Rapids airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- January 1, 1984 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marion, Iowa · Cedar Rapids · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N3641C · registry record · serial R18200290
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SNOWBANK AFTER SWERVING DURING TAKEOFF. THE SWERVE WAS STARTED WHEN THE ACFT HIT A WINDBLOWN SNOWDRIFT WHICH CHANGED THE ACFTS DIRECTION. AFTER THE COLLISION THE ACFTS NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE LEFT MAIN GEAR RETRACTED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 658 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 588 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,155 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 25, 1983; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C57 Marion IA at 1:25 pm
- Destination: DSM Des Moines IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 30, 2,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:48 pm from CID, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.