Family survives small plane crash in Des Moines

A Virginia family walked away uninjured Saturday after their personal plane crash-landed at the intersection of Southwest 56th Street and Park Avenue in Des Moines. 

The pilot, his wife and two children had just taken off from Des Moines International Airport's runway 1331, which points northwest. The plane had reached an altitude of about 900 feet when it experienced some sort of mechanical failure, said Des Moines Fire Department spokesman Brian O'Keefe. 

The unique Cirrus plane was equipped with the brand's standard airframe parachute system. That chute allowed the single-propeller plane to ease down to the ground about 10 a.m.

"So instead of crashing, it's deployed to gradually slow the plane down and land more softly," said Des Moines Fire Capt. Amy Montgomery, who was one of the first responders on the scene. 

The plane caught fire on the road, but the pilot and passengers were uninjured. The unnamed pilot remained on the scene as authorities began investigating the crash. He declined to be interviewed. 

The fire engulfed the aircraft, leaving only the nose and one wing of the charred plane remaining. 

"It looks a lot worse than it was," Montgomery said.

Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek said Park Avenue will be closed until Sunday as emergency crews investigate and clean up the crash. 

As of 9:12 p.m., MidAmerican Energy is reporting that three customers are still without power. 

Check back to DesMoinesRegister.com for updates.