Amateur-built RLU1 accident near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 5, 1982
On August 5, 1982 at about 7:25 pm local time, a amateur-built RLU1, registered N59Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1982 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RLU1
- Registration
- N59Y · no longer on the register · serial RLU15537
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE GOT A WEATHER BRIEFING BEFORE DEPARTING OSHKOSH, WI. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE ENCOUNTERED FOG AND RAIN. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE TO FIND TIMMERMAN OR RAINBOW AIRPORT. THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. WHILE LANDING ON A BOULEVARD, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE ROOF OF A MOVING AUTOMOBILE AND BROKE ITS REAR WINDOW. THIS LIGHT WEIGHT AIRCRAFT DOES NOT HAVE AN ENCLOSED COCKPIT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,250 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 1,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Oshkosh WI at 12:40 pm
- Destination: Hartford WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.