Bay Area pilot identified in Oregon plane crash

A fire burns southwest of the Madras Municipal Airport in Madras, Ore., on Saturday. Aug. 19, 2017 after a fatal plane crash in Willow Creek Canyon. (Rhianna Gelhart/The Register-Guard via AP) A fire burns southwest of the Madras Municipal Airport in Madras, Ore., on Saturday. Aug. 19, 2017 after a fatal plane crash in Willow Creek Canyon. (Rhianna Gelhart/The Register-Guard via AP) Photo: Rhianna Gelhart/AP Photo: Rhianna Gelhart/AP Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close Bay Area pilot identified in Oregon plane crash 1 / 7 Back to Gallery

A pilot killed when his small plane crashed in an Oregon canyon ahead of Monday’s solar eclipse was identified as a Menlo Park man.

Mark James Rich, 58, died Saturday after his home-built Wheel Marker Express went down a mile from Madras Municipal Airport, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department officials confirmed Tuesday.

“The Rich family has asked me to convey their request for privacy at this time,” Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Adkins said in a statement. “I appreciate the sensitivity of the media in particular to make every effort to show respect for the family’s needs and allow them to mourn in private.”

First responders found the plane engulfed in flames near the top of Willow Creek Canyon, about 120 miles southeast of Portland. Firefighters quickly doused a small blaze caused by the incident.

Thousands had flocked to the state over the weekend to watch the solar eclipse, although it was unclear whether Rich had traveled to Oregon to watch the celestial show.

Officials initially reported that two people had died in the crash, but they later determined that only Rich had been aboard the aircraft. Federal Aviation Administration records listed the single engine plane as amateur built. The aircraft held a valid certificate issued in 2002.

FAA and National Transportation Safety Board officials are investigating what led to the crash.

Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno