Friday, January 22, 2021

Experimental / M1, N322TR: Accident occurred January 21, 2021 in Eagle Point, Jackson County, Oregon

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Eugene, Oregon


Location: Eagle Point, OR 
Accident Number: WPR21LA094
Date & Time: January 21, 2021, 12:00 Local
Registration: N322TR
Aircraft: Randy Wayne Maloney M1
Injuries: 4 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On January 25, 2021, about 1200 pacific standard time, an experimental Randy Wayne Maloney M1, N322TR, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Eagle Point, OR. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot and ATP rated passenger departed Shady Cove, OR (OG31) enroute to Ashland, OR (S01). While cruising straight and level at 3,000 msl the engine began to sputter and the airplane began to descend. In anticipation of a forced landing, the pilot flew towards farm fields. At approximately 50 feet agl the engine RPM began to increase slightly so the pilot maintained that altitude momentarily. In attempt to avoid stalling the pilot decided to remain low level assuming engine problems would reoccur. While at that low altitude the airplane struck a cable. As the airplane descended the pilot attempted to control the airplane to a suitable area but struck a tree adjacent to an open field. After impacting the ground and with only minor injuries, the pilot and passenger successfully egressed prior to the airplane catching on fire. Airplane was subsequently destroyed with minor property damage to a small grass area surrounding the crash site.

The airplane and engine was recovered and will be examined.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Randy Wayne Maloney 
Registration: N322TR
Model/Series: M1 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KMFR
Observation Time: 11:30 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 7 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 5°C /-1°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 11000 ft AGL 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: 
None Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Shady Cove, OR (OG31)
Destination: Ashland, OR (S03)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: 2 Minor 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 4 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 42.25219,-122.453 (est)
 

JACKSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE NEWS RELEASE
Date: 012221
Case 21-363

This is a brief update on the small aircraft that crashed in a field near Eagle Point, Oregon on 012121 at 1148 hours.

The pilot of the aircraft has been identified as Benjamin Andrew Rose, 23 years old of Grants Pass, Oregon. The passenger is Chad Guerin Stichter, 24 years old of Grants Pass, Oregon.

Preliminary information indicates there was a mechanical issue with the aircraft during the flight from Shady Cove to Ashland.

The case has been referred to the Federal Aviation Administration to continue their investigation.


Local police and Federal Aviation Administration officials have released new information about the plane that crashed and burned in a field outside Eagle Point city limits, and the two occupants who survived with only minor injuries.

The plane that crashed just before noon Thursday into rural private properties near Meridian and Yankee Creek roads was a Maloney M1 fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft built in 1998, according to the FAA,

The aircraft was certified airworthy in July 1999, according to the FAA registry, and was registered to Chad Guerin Strichter of Grants Pass on Nov. 6 of last year.

Strichter, 24, had set off on a trip with passenger Benjamin Andrew Rose, 23, also of Grants Pass.

They reportedly departed from Shady Cove en route to Ashland when the plane encountered an as-yet unknown mechanical issue, according to a follow-up release from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

The FAA’s preliminary accident report issued Friday simply states that the aircraft “crashed in a field under unknown circumstances” near Eagle Point.

The FAA accident report states that Strichter and Rose each sustained only “minor” injuries in the crash.

The federal accident report does not include further details about the extent of their injuries, but the FAA defines minor injuries as the lowest on its injury scale and typically includes “superficial” abrasions, sprained fingers, first-degree burns or head injuries that cause nothing more serious than temporary headache or dizziness.

3 comments:

  1. When I saw the picture would not think anyone would walk away from it.

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  2. That plane should have a pretty good glide ratio. I wonder what happened?

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    1. Some of the news reports said a fence was damaged during the landing. Should have been an easy area to land except for power lines and fences, see street view photo of rural private properties near Meridian and Yankee Creek roads:

      https://goo.gl/maps/9uZVQXUbXs5z2igD6

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