# NTSB CEN09LA491: Cessna 182J, N989TP, Iowa Falls, IA, July 31, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 2009, 13:54 local (18:54 UTC) - Place: Iowa Falls, IA - Coordinates: 42.470554, -93.269721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4706&lon=-93.2697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining events: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250); [Approach-VFR pattern final: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74442 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA491 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74442/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74442 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA491 ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) Both pilots' failure to execute adequate visual lookout, resulting in the two airplanes colliding over the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md) ## Analysis (aircraft 1) The Cessna pilot stated that he announced his position on the approach to the airport starting about 11 miles out and continuing until he was on final approach. While on final, he noticed a Swift airplane holding on the taxiway for runway 31. He said that he heard a radio transmission that stated, “There are two airplanes landing.” He said that he immediately heard and felt a bang. He reported, “My aircraft turned sideways some and came on down to the runway.” The pilot of the other aircraft, a Mooney, stated that he announced his position on the approach to the airport while entering the downwind for runway 31. He said, “The only traffic observed was an airplane holding at taxiway intersection.” He said that he was ready to reduce power to land when his left wing rose violently. He stated that he lost consciousness, woke up thinking of fire, turned off switches, and became unconscious again before waking up in the emergency room. He reported that the purpose of the flight was to get the airplane to the airport for its annual inspection. An examination of the Mooney showed collision witness marks on its upper surfaces indicative of the Cessna impacting from above. An examination of the Cessna showed collision witness marks on its lower surfaces. 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.113 states, in part, "When two or more aircraft are approaching an airport for the purpose of landing, the aircraft at the lower altitude has the right-of-way but it shall not take advantage of this rule to cut in front of another which is on final approach to land or to overtake that aircraft." ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On July 31, 2009, about 1354 central daylight time, a Cessna 182J, N989TP, and a Mooney M20C, N3206F, collided in flight while on final to runway 31 (4,001 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at the Iowa Falls Municipal Airport (IFA), near Iowa Falls, Iowa. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain. The pilot of each airplane sustained minor injuries. Both airplanes were on personal flights operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without flight plans. Daytime visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The Cessna originated at the Belmond Municipal Airport, near Belmond, Iowa, about 1340 and the Mooney originated at the Eldora Municipal Airport, near Eldora, Iowa, about 1350. Both airplanes were destined for IFA. A witness in his office was listening to the airport scanner radio. He stated, “I remember hearing the Cessna pilot reporting his position several times while entering and while in the pattern and it sounded like he was in a typical left traffic pattern for runway 31. I ... did not hear any other reporting traffic.” The Cessna pilot stated, in his accident report, that he announced his position on the approach to IFA starting about 11 miles out all the way to final. He saw, while on final, a Swift airplane holding on the taxiway for runway 31. He said he heard a radio transmission that stated, “There are two airplanes landing.” He said that he immediately heard and felt a bang. He reported, “My aircraft turned sideways some and came on down to the runway.” The Mooney pilot stated, in his accident report, that he announced his position on the approach to IFA while entering downwind for runway 31. He said, “The only traffic observed was an airplane holding at taxiway intersection.” He said that he was ready to reduce power to land when his left wing rose violently. He stated that he lost consciousness, woke up thinking of fire, turned off switches, and became unconscious again finally waking up in the emergency room. He reported that the purpose of the flight was to get the airplane to IFA for its annual inspection. The pilot in the Swift, in part, stated: I heard a Cessna call 4 miles out and elected to wait until he had landed. The Cessna made a normal pattern and made radio calls on Base and Final. After he called Final, I looked up and saw 2 aircraft on final. The other aircraft was a Mooney and I had not seen or heard him in the pattern before this. I made a call on the CTAF that there were 2 aircraft on final. From my position and angle, the Mooney appeared lower... . A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplanes' wreckage. The Mooney exhibited collision witness marks on its upper surfaces and the Cessna exhibited collision witness marks on its lower surfaces. The Cessna pilot held a FAA private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating. He reported he held a FAA Third Class medical certificate, dated March 15, 2008. Heindicated that he had accumulated 363 hours of total flight time, 313 hours in the Cessna 182, 58 hours in the last 90 days, 28 hours in the last 30 days, and 2 hours in the last 24 hours. He stated that he passed a flight review on June 28, 2008. The Mooney pilot held a FAA private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating. He reported he held a FAA Third Class medical certificate, dated August 20, 2007. He indicated that he had accumulated 810 hours of total flight time and 20 minutes in the last 24 hours. He stated that he passed a flight review on June 15, 1998. N989TP was a 1966 Cessna 172N, serial number 18257006, was an externally braced high-wing, propeller-driven, fixed landing gear, semi-monocoque design, four-seat airplane. According to its pilot, the airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on May 1, 2009, and the airplane accumulated 4,878 hours of total time. N3206F was a 1967 Mooney M20C, serial number 680001, was a low wing, all-metal, single-engine, propeller-driven, four-place monoplane, which had retractable tricycle landing gear. According to its pilot, the last recorded annual inspection was dated March 24, 2006, and the airplane accumulated 3,856 hours of total time. At 1355, the recorded weather at IFA was: Wind 230 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition scattered 4,300 feet, scattered 6,000 feet, scattered 9,000 feet; temperature 23 degrees C; dew point 13 degrees C; altimeter 29.99 inches of mercury. An excerpt from 14 CFR Part 91.113 stated: Right-of-way rules: Except water operations. ... (b) General. When weather conditions permit, regardless of whether an operation is conducted under instrument flight rules or visual flight rules, vigilance shall be maintained by each person operating an aircraft so as to see and avoid other aircraft. When a rule of this section gives another aircraft the right-of-way, the pilot shall give way to that aircraft and may not pass over, under, or ahead of it unless well clear. ... (g) Landing. Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface, except that they shall not take advantage of this rule to force an aircraft off the runway surface which has already landed and is attempting to make way for an aircraft on final approach. When two or more aircraft are approaching an airport for the purpose of landing, the aircraft at the lower altitude has the right-of-way, but it shall not take advantage of this rule to cut in front of another which is on final approach to land or to overtake that aircraft. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N989TP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N989TP-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N 18257006, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182J - Registry model: [Cessna 182J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182j) (registry code 2072722) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18257006 - Airframe hours: 4878 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470-50 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2009 - Departed: Y48, Belmond, IA - Destination: IFA, Iowa Falls, IA - Airport: IFA, Iowa Falls Airport, runway 31, 4,001 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N3206F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3206F-2011-05-24), registration cancelled 2011-05-24, S/N 680001, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 680001 - Airframe hours: 3850 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 2006 - Departed: 6C0, Eldora, IA - Destination: IFA, Iowa Falls, IA - Airport: IFA, Iowa Falls Airport, runway 31, 4,001 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N989TP; age 56; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 28, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 363 total, 313 in this make and model, 303 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N3206F; age 72; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 15, 1998; seat: left; flight hours: 810 total, 422 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 239° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: IFA, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090731015162A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090731015162A), Jul 31, 2009: Cessna 182J, Iowa Falls, IA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot departed belmind airport (Y48) and was enroute to Iowa Falls airport (ifa). He was in range for landing and about eleven miles out; stated he… - [Accident 20090731014811A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090731014811A), Jul 31, 2009: Mooney M20C, Iowa Falls, IA, Destroyed. (-23) The pilot departed eldora airport (6C0) and traveled to Iowa Falls airport (ifa). He stated he was transmitting on UNICOM 122.8; however none of the… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74442. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - N989TP (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318120&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20N989TP-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - N3206F (item 2, .PDF, 486 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318121&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20N3206F-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318122&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 4, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Collected Witness Statements (item 5, .PDF, 321 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318287&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Collected%20Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 6, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318252&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - FAA Regulation 91.113 (item 7, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318123&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Regulation%2091.113-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.