Amateur-built WHEELER EXPRESS/FT accident near Fort Wayne, Indiana, July 1, 2000
On July 1, 2000 at about 9:45 pm local time, a amateur-built WHEELER EXPRESS/FT, registered N521MC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Wayne, Indiana (Smith Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the obstructed brake pedals and the unavailable brakes to the pilot. Factors were the parked airplane and the fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2000 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Wayne, Indiana · Smith Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built WHEELER EXPRESS/FT WHEELER EX
- Registration
- N521MC · registry record · serial 42
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was landing when it ran off the end of the runway and struck a parked airplane and the airport perimeter fence. The pilot said that, "after touchdown I tapped [the] brakes lightly and got no response. I applied heavier pressure but got no brakes other than very light response." The airplane went off the end of the runway and across the parking ramp striking a parked airplane and the airport perimeter fence. The parked airplane received minor damage to the left aileron. A postaccident examination revealed that the brake travel was restricted by a support bar installed above the brake pedals. No other anomalies were found that could be associated with a preexisting condition.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,338 hours in all; 252 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 6,838 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 260 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 24, 2000; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K88 Iola KS at 6:30 pm
- Destination: SMD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 13, 2,910 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 176°F (80°C), dew point 131°F (55°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from FWA, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.