# NTSB CEN22LA112: Vans RV4, N544WM, Hortonville, WI, January 29, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 29, 2022, 13:40 local (19:40 UTC) - Place: Hortonville, WI · Snowplowed airstrip on Black Otter Lake. - Coordinates: 44.3315, -88.6332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3315&lon=-88.6332&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104583 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104583/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104583 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA112 ## Probable cause The loss of direction control while maneuvering off the plowed surface to avoid a collision with a vehicle. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Straight VANS RV 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=05630QI), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) - [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Straight VANS RV 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md?model=05630QI), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Straight VANS RV 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05630QI), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Straight VANS RV 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05630QI), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Straight VANS RV 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05630QI), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Straight VANS RV 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05630QI), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N544WM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N544WM), registered now, S/N 3358, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV4 - Registry model: [Straight VANS RV 4](https://openairdocs.org/model/straight-vans-rv-4) (registry code 05630QI) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-E2D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-e2d) (registry code 42123, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 3358 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 659 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Campbell Greg L - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 17, 2022, 0.6 hours before - Departed: PCZ, Waupaca, WI - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: N/A, Black Otter Lake, runway 35, 2,500 × 100 ft, ice - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 4, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 941.7 total, 378.8 in this make and model, 946.4 as pilot in command, 17.7 in the last 90 days, 1.8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 17 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20220129001049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220129001049A), Jan 29, 2022: Straight Aviation LLC VANS RV 4, Hortonville, WI, Substantial damage. Hortonville, WI: N544WM, RV4, after landing on a snowplowed strip on black otter lake, aircraft struck a snowbank to avoid a truck at the end of the strip.… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104583. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14594748&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N544WM%20form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.