An unknown aircraft belonging to the Iowa Aviation Museum hit some power lines and crashed on a bank on the Des Moines River on Saturday, killing the two people on board. Source. Edit: the aircraft involved appears to be the museum’s Fairchild PT-19.
Two killed in vintage airplane crash in Des Moines River
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Hello,
My name is Joshua Shultz & that PT-19A was my airplane, N53956.
My grandfather, Lt. Colonel Quentin Shultz (B24 pilot with 51 combat missions in the CBI theater with the 436th Bomber Squadron (Outlaws!), 7th Bomb Group, 10th Air Force) bought & restored the aircraft in the late 50’s.
I inherited the aircraft when my grandfather passed away.
The aircraft was leased to the IAHM in exchange for it’s restoration to flying condition. At the time of the crash the aircraft had only been flying a few months & was in very good condition.
From the NTSB report:
THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING AT A LOW ALTITUDE ALONG A RIVER BED. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TWO POWER LINES AT AN APPROXIMATE ALTITUDE OF 200 FEET. ONE WIRE BROKE AND REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE LEFT WING. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A SAND BAR IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AND CAME TO REST INVERTED 150 FEET BEYOND THE POWER LINES. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE FATALLY INJURED.
The aircraft was completely destroyed.