Des Moines International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Des Moines, Iowa 50321
Friday, November 3, 2000 16:47 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/3/2000
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1647
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Des Moines
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50321
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Des Moines International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DSM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 957
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1554 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 130
Weather Observation Facility ID DSM
Elevation of weather observation facility 957
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 30000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.26
Density Altitude (feet) 406
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11635
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Nov 3 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 21 2002 10:26AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N71134
NTSB Number CHI01FA026
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Luscombe
Aircraft Model 8A
Aircraft Series Identifier 8A
Aircraft Serial Number 2561
Certified Max Gross Weight 1260
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 28 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 1443
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Michael Scot O'Grady
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3706 SW 34th Place
Aircraft Owner City Des Moines
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 50321
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code DSM
Departure City --
Departure State --
Departure Country --
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 30 2002 8:36AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31R
Runway Length 9001
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --