20150211002009A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Richard Lacourse WHEELER EXPRESS · Kersey, CO · February 11, 2015

Date: February 11, 2015 · 14:35 local
Place: Kersey, CO
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N564ER
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN15FA141
Reported as: Richard Lacourse Wheeler Express
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 336 total1 in this make and model3 in the last 90 days

N564ERRegistration cancelled Mar 7, 2018 · Richard Lacourse WHEELER EXPRESSS/N XP0123 · Built 2013 Airframe modelRichard Lacourse WHEELER EXPRESS Engine modelLycoming IO-540-S1A5Reciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On February 11, 2015 at about 14:35 mountain standard time an experimental Wheeler Express impacted terrain near Kersey, Colorado. The pilot and pilot rated passenger (owner) both received fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed. A post-crash fire ensued. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 code of federal regulations part 91. They were operating under phase 1 (test flight) of the operating limitations. A witness reported seeing the aircraft descending at about a 30° angle and impacted the terrain. Another witness at the greeley airport reported that the engine was missing and popping during taxi in and out. He also reported that the aircraft experienced a total electrical failure before departure. And had borrowed a battery jump start box, step stool and a jumper wire. He reported that the owner was able to get the aircraft started but was unsure if the electrical issue was corrected. They then departed greeley airport.

As the FAA filed it

ON FEBRUARY 11, 2015 AT ABOUT 14:35 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME AN EXPERIMENTAL WHEELER EXPRESS IMPACTED TERRAIN NEAR KERSEY, COLORADO. THE PILOT AND PILOT RATED PASSENGER (OWNER) BOTH RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. A POST-CRASH FIRE ENSUED. THE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. THEY WERE OPERATING UNDER PHASE 1 (TEST FLIGHT) OF THE OPERATING LIMITATIONS. A WITNESS REPORTED SEEING THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDING AT ABOUT A 30° ANGLE AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. ANOTHER WITNESS AT THE GREELEY AIRPORT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS MISSING AND POPPING DURING TAXI IN AND OUT. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE BEFORE DEPARTURE. AND HAD BORROWED A BATTERY JUMP START BOX, STEP STOOL AND A JUMPER WIRE. HE REPORTED THAT THE OWNER WAS ABLE TO GET THE AIRCRAFT STARTED BUT WAS UNSURE IF THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE WAS CORRECTED. THEY THEN DEPARTED GREELEY AIRPORT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN15FA141Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportKersey, COThe pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during an off-airport forced landing following a total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination of the engine. Contributing to the accident was the pilots'…Feb 11, 2015 · Destroyed