What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23)Aircraft N71134, a 1946 Luscombe 8A enroute to Des Moines from the northeast, contacted Des Moines approach control and was instructed to fly down center line of runway 23 for a left down wind appraoch to runway 31L. Pilot contacted Des Moines tower to request change to runway 31R. Requested change to runway 31R was approved by air traffic control for 31R. Personnel on the ground observed aircraft on a right hand down wind for 31R in a steep right bank. The aircraft imapcted the ground at approximately 90 degree right bank prior to reaching the runway. No radio reports for aircraft malfunction of distrss were reported prior to impact. The sole occupant of the aircraft was fatally injured.
As the FAA filed it
(-23)AIRCRAFT N71134, A 1946 LUSCOMBE 8A ENROUTE TO DES MOINES FROM THE NORTHEAST, CONTACTED DES MOINES APPROACH CONTROL AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO FLY DOWN CENTER LINE OF RUNWAY 23 FOR A LEFT DOWN WIND APPRAOCH TO RUNWAY 31L. PILOT CONTACTED DES MOINES TOWER TO REQUEST CHANGE TO RUNWAY 31R. REQUESTED CHANGE TO RUNWAY 31R WAS APPROVED BY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL FOR 31R. PERSONNEL ON THE GROUND OBSERVED AIRCRAFT ON A RIGHT HAND DOWN WIND FOR 31R IN A STEEP RIGHT BANK. THE AIRCRAFT IMAPCTED THE GROUND AT APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREE RIGHT BANK PRIOR TO REACHING THE RUNWAY. NO RADIO REPORTS FOR AIRCRAFT MALFUNCTION OF DISTRSS WERE REPORTED PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS FATALLY INJURED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N71134 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.