# Accident 20170819010409A: Rich Mark WHEELER EXPRESS, Madras, OR, August 19, 2017 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 19, 2017, 13:53 local time - Place: Madras, OR - Airport: Madras Municipal - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Landing: Approach - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 44.6431° N, 121.1644° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6431&lon=-121.1644&mi=10 - Aircraft: N246TM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N246TM-2017-11-20) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Rich Mark WHEELER EXPRESS (registry code 05614J6, https://openairdocs.org/model/rich-mark-wheeler-express) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RICH MARK WHEELER EXPRESS - Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 1 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17FA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA185) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170819010409A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. THE PILOT OF THE HOME-BUILT WHEELER EXPRESS EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT N246TM WAS ON HIS WAY TO VIEW THE TOTAL ECLIPSE AT MADRAS OREGON. THE PILOT HELD A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE WITH AN INSTRUMENT RATING. ACCORDING TO A CONTROLLER STATEMENT N246TM EXPERIMENTAL CHECKED IN AROUND COVE INBOUND. THE CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED N246TM (6TM) TO PROCEED TO A 3-MILE FINAL FOR RUNWAY 34. THE CONTROLLER ALSO INSTRUCTED ANOTHER AIRCRAFT TO PROCEED TO A 3-MILE FINAL FOR RUNWAY 34 TO FOLLOW THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT. SEVERAL MINUTES WENT BY WHEN THE CONTROLLER ASKED 6TM FOR A POSITION REPORT. 6TM REPORTED ABOUT 3 MILES LEFT BASE FOR RUNWAY 34. THE CONTROLLER RESPONDED, NOT IN SIGHT AND CLEARED 6TM TO LAND RUNWAY 34. WHEN THE CONTROLLER WAS SCANNING THE RUNWAY AND AIRDROME HE NOTICED A LARGE BLACK CLOUD OF SMOKE RISING FROM THE GROUND SOUTH OF RUNWAY 34. THE CONTROLLER ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT 6TM WITH NO RESPONSE. AT THAT TIME THE CRASH TRUCK CODE WAS ACTIVATED AND RESPONDED TO. REGIONAL OPERATION?S CONTROL WAS NOTIFIED AND 911 WAS CALLED. THE CONTROLLER REPORTED EXPERIMENTAL N246TM CRASHED 1 MILE SOUTHWEST OF THE MADRAS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. A STATEMENT POSTED BY THE JEFFERSON COUNTY OFFICIALS IN OREGON STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHEN THE FIRST RESPONDERS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, NEAR THE TOP OF WILLOW CREEK CANYON ABOUT A MILE FROM THE MADRAS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. A SMALL FIRE WAS STARTED BY THE CRASH BUT QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED. THE PLANE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT PRELIMINARY NOTICE CONTAINED WEATHER DATA AS CLEAR SKIES AND NUMBER OF PASSENGERS AS ONE FATALITY. ## 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 WPR17FA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA185), Aug 19, 2017: Rich Wheeler Express CT (N246TM), Madras, OR, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering in the airport traffic pattern for landing, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, a… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.