Authorities: Coralville man was practicing landing techniques before fatal plane crash

TIFFIN — A University of Iowa doctor and clinical professor was practicing landing and takeoff techniques when he was involved in a fatal plane crash earlier this month.

According to an aviation accident preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board, Dr. Dale Bieber, 73, contacted The Eastern Iowa Airport control tower around 3:52 p.m. May 2 and informed personnel there that he was going to perform “touch and go maneuvers” at the Green Castle Airport. In a touch and go landing, the pilot prepares to land, briefly touches down and then takes off without coming to a stop.

The preliminary report states that a witness saw Bieber’s Cessna T210M touch down and bounce, with the right wing lifting up to “an estimated 45-degree angle.” Bieber leveled the plane and bounced a second time, the witness reported.

Authorities said Bieber landed the plane and exited the runway into a field. The witness reported hearing the engine increase to full power as Bieber attempted to take off from the field.

The report states Bieber’s plane hit a power pole and power line near the corner of the field.

“Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain and a post-accident fire ensued,” the report states.

According to the University of Iowa, Bieber was a clinical professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and internist with University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics since 2007.

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