Amateur-built RV4 accident near Hortonville, Wisconsin, January 29, 2022
On January 29, 2022 at about 7:40 pm local time, a 2012 amateur-built RV4, registered N544WM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Hortonville, Wisconsin (Black Otter Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of direction control while maneuvering off the plowed surface to avoid a collision with a vehicle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 29, 2022 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Hortonville, Wisconsin · Black Otter Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV4, built 2012
- Registration
- N544WM · registry record · serial 3358
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While landing on a frozen lake, the pilot observed a van at the end of the plowed airstrip. The pilot did not know the driver’s intention and decided to steer the airplane off the plowed area into the snow to slow the airplane before getting close to the van. The right tire hit a frozen obstruction and the airplane turned right and nosed down. Substantial damage was sustained to an engine mount and the lower firewall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions that contributed to the accident. The pilot stated that he did not realize that the snow at the edge was so frozen and deep.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Decision related to condition
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Snowy/icy terrain › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 941.7 hours in all; 378.8 in this make and model; 17.7 in the last 90 days; 1.8 in the last 30 days; 946.4 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 4, 2020
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 659 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 17, 2022; 0.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PCZ Waupaca WI at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 17°F (-8°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on October 20, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.