Luscombe 8A N71134

Summary

On 3 November 2000 at about 22:47 local time, a Luscombe 8A registered N71134 was involved in an accident near Des Moines, Iowa, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 November 2000 at 22:47

Classification

Accident

Location

Des Moines, Iowa, United States

Nearest airport

Des Moines International (DSM)

Coordinates

41.5298, -93.6606

Aircraft

Luscombe 8A

Registration

N71134

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI01FA026

1 person died.

The pilot not maintaining aircraft control during the final turn, and the pilot's improper decision to fly the tight pattern to the closer runway. Factors relating to the accident were the pilot's inadequate distance/altitude in the traffic pattern and the stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot contacted Des Moines approach control for landing instructions. Approach control told the pilot to fly inbound on the extended centerline for runway 23 until turning on to a left downwind for runway 31L. ATCT then instructed the pilot to turn left on downwind for runway 31L at mid-field. Two minutes later, the pilot contacted the tower and asked if he could land on runway 31R. The tower controller told the pilot to keep the turn tight and asked if the pilot could turn base from where he was. The pilot said that he could. Witnesses on the ground observed the airplane in a constant bank, starting from downwind until rolling wings level on final approach. The airplane's wings were level only for a moment when the airplane sharply rolled into a 90-degree bank angle and impacted the ground. An examination of the airplane revealed no pre-impact anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.