Amateur-built Vans RV-4 accident near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, October 27, 2002
On October 27, 2002 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Vans RV-4, registered N994RV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (Lake Geneva Aire Estates airport). 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 loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. A contributing factor was the ditch adjacent to the roadway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2002 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Geneva, Wisconsin · Lake Geneva Aire Estates · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Vans RV-4
- Registration
- N994RV · no longer on the register · serial 2743
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The amateur-built aircraft was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss engine power shortly after takeoff. The pilot reported: "After doing a run-up prior to my departure I applied full throttle and departed the runway. Moments later I noticed a loss of power and the engine quit running." The pilot attempted a forced landing on a four-lane roadway adjacent to the airport. The pilot landed on the shoulder of the roadway and proceeded into an adjacent ditch. A post-accident engine examination was conducted and did not find any anomolies. Weather conditions reported in the vicinity of the accident location included an air temperature and dew point of 7 degrees Celsius and -2 degrees Celsuis, respectively. According to data provided by Transport Canada, a possibility of serious carburetor icing at descent power existed at the time of 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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 737 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 696 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 27, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 732 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 29, 2002; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 Series (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WI89 Lake Geneva WI at 7:00 pm
- Destination: BUU Burlington WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 6:58 pm from BUU, 8 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.