Amateur-built VANS RV-4 accident near Martinsburg, West Virginia, May 12, 2021
On May 12, 2021 at about 10:07 pm local time, a 1992 amateur-built VANS RV-4, registered N54RV, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Martinsburg, West Virginia (Eastern Wv Rgnl/Shepherd Fld 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 pilot’s improper landing flare in variable crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2021 · about 10:07 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Martinsburg, West Virginia · Eastern Wv Rgnl/Shepherd Fld · cases near this airport · 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 NO SERIES, built 1992
- Registration
- N54RV · registry record · serial 2370
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after a local flight during an approach to land, he “rounded out too soon” in the landing flare, which resulted in the airplane entering an aerodynamic stall “a couple of feet above the runway.” The airplane subsequently touched down hard on the runway, the airplane skidded to a stop, and the pilot shut down the airplane and pushed it onto a taxiway. Photographs provided by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed substantial to the rear fuselage area and engine mount, in addition to a wrinkled firewall and damaged propeller. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 8 with wind reported near the accident time from 320° at 7 knots, variable from 290° to 350°.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Variable wind › Response/compensation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 412 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 22, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 752 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 30, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRB Martisburg WV at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08/2, 8,815 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 6:23 pm from KMRB, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): SPECI KMRB 122223Z 32007KT 290V350 10SM BKN100 19/M01 A3019 RMK AO2 T01891011=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of the airplane damage sustained to the forward nose and engine area
Photo 2 – View of the damaged firewall
Photo 3 – Overview of the buckled empennage/ fuselage areaThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 13, 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N54RV on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 27,311 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Eastern WV Rgnl/Shepherd Field · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in West Virginia 424 since 1982 · 54 in the last ten years
- West Virginia 886 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA21LA255.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.