Once the probe was 60 km—or 32 miles—above the surface, it detached from the interplanetary bus and deployed it's parachute. There was a problem with the parachute, however, and the probe slammed into the surface at a much higher speed than expected. The signal was thought to be completely lost upon impact, but after reviewing the tape at a later date, 23 minutes of a very weak signal was found. It is thought that the probe bounced onto it's side and obstructed the antenna.
Venus is not a place that is easily observable. The planet is almost completely covered in clouds of sulfuric acid, making it hard to see the surface. The planet literally rains acid, though it evaporates before it ever reaches the ground due to a surface temperature of 462 degrees Celsius.
Venus is sometimes referred to as Earth's sister planet because of the similar size and gravity, but it is far from hospitable for life as we know it. Even our machines have a hard time on the planet. If you're going to plan an interplanetary trip, I'd suggest keeping clear of this one.
