# Accident 20150211002009A: Richard Lacourse WHEELER EXPRESS, Kersey, CO, February 11, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 11, 2015, 14:35 local time
- Place: Kersey, CO
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.3417° N, 104.5592° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3417&lon=-104.5592&mi=10
- Aircraft: N564ER, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N564ER-2018-03-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Richard Lacourse WHEELER EXPRESS (registry code 05632FV, https://openairdocs.org/model/richard-lacourse-wheeler-express) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5 (registry code 41788, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-s1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RICHARD LACOURSE WHEELER EXPRESS
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-S1A5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 336 total, 1 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15FA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA141) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150211002009A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN15FA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA141), Feb 11, 2015: Richard Lacourse Wheeler Express (N564ER), Kersey, CO, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The 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…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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