Amateur-built Revelation accident near Wautoma, Wisconsin, July 21, 2001
On July 21, 2001 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Revelation, registered N6116S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wautoma, Wisconsin (Wautoma Municipal Airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, resulting in a stall. An inadequate pitch setting of the propeller is a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2001 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wautoma, Wisconsin · Wautoma Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Revelation
- Registration
- N6116S · no longer on the register · serial RE00/0001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to the accident flight, which was the experimental homebuilt airplane's second flight since certification, the propeller was adjusted to a finer setting to achieve the desired static engine rpm. The pilot stated that after the takeoff during the accident flight, the airplane did not accelerate normally when out of ground effect and would not climb above approximately 30 feet. The pilot reported that there was not enough runway remaining to land and he started a shallow right turn to keep over the airport area. The pilot reported, "While maintaining 60 mph IAS [indicated airspeed] in a shallow bank, the wing stalled & I was unable to recover before impact with a corn field. The plane hit the ground with right wing about 30 [degrees] low and 20-30 [degrees] nose low." No anomalies were found with the airframe or its engine that could be associated with any pre-impact 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 4,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 27, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 0 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 1, 2001; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 618 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y50 Wautoma WI at 10:00 pm
- Destination: Y50 Wautoma WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 2,280 ft by 175 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from OSH, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.