Amateur-built RV-4 and amateur-built VANS RV-8 accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 28, 2022
On July 28, 2022 at about 2:20 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built RV-4 (N79KM) and amateur-built VANS RV-8 (N694V), were involved in the same accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Regional airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot of N694V (RV-8) to maintain clearance from the preceding airplane, N79KM (RV-4), while taxiing for takeoff, which resulted in an on-ground collision.
The failure of the pilot of N694V (RV-8) to maintain clearance from the preceding airplane, N79KM (RV-4), while taxiing for takeoff, which resulted in an on-ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 2022 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Regional · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built RV-4, built 1998
- Registration
- N79KM · registry record · serial 1750
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built VANS RV-8, built 2003
- Registration
- N694V · registry record · serial 80694
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built RV-4 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of N694V, a tailwheel equipped RV-8, reported that he was taxiing for a visual flight rules (VFR) departure with the intention of conducting a flight in the local area. He was taxiing under the direction of ground marshals in accordance with procedures in effect for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture 2022 fly-in. He was briefly “blinded” by the sun reflecting off the polished wing skin of another airplane and began a shallow S-turn to compensate. As he looked over the left side of his engine cowling, he noticed an airplane emerge from the blind spot. He applied full brakes but was unable to stop before the propeller contacted the empennage of an RV-4, N79KM. The pilot of N79KM, a tailwheel equipped RV-4, reported that he was stopped due to other airplanes in front of him on the taxiway. The RV-4, N79KM, sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and elevator. The RV-8, N694V, sustained minor damage to both propeller blades. The pilots of both airplanes reported no failures or malfunctions with their respective airplanes before the accident.
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 NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built VANS RV-8 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of N694V, a tailwheel equipped RV-8, reported that he was taxiing for a visual flight rules (VFR) departure with the intention of conducting a flight in the local area. He was taxiing under the direction of ground marshals in accordance with procedures in effect for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture 2022 fly-in. He was briefly “blinded” by the sun reflecting off the polished wing skin of another airplane and began a shallow S-turn to compensate. As he looked over the left side of his engine cowling, he noticed an airplane emerge from the blind spot. He applied full brakes but was unable to stop before the propeller contacted the empennage of an RV-4, N79KM. The pilot of N79KM, a tailwheel equipped RV-4, reported that he was stopped due to other airplanes in front of him on the taxiway. The RV-4, N79KM, sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and elevator. The RV-8, N694V, sustained minor damage to both propeller blades. The pilots of both airplanes reported no failures or malfunctions with their respective airplanes before the accident.
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 for the amateur-built RV-4 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot of other aircraft
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 298 hours in all; 188 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 195 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 2, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 778 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 16, 2022; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 1,417 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Destination: DCU Decatur AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 8,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 11 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from KOSH
Weather report (METAR): METAR KOSH 281453Z 29011G20KT 10SM CLR 21/12 A2986
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built VANS RV-8 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Glare › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 348 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 279 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 20, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 795 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 8, 2022; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 795 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN22LA346.