Amateur-built RLU-1 accident near Marshall, Michigan, September 12, 1982
On September 12, 1982 at about 1:10 pm local time, a amateur-built RLU-1, registered N32BP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marshall, Michigan (Brooks airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- September 12, 1982 · about 1:10 pm local time
- Place
- Marshall, Michigan · Brooks · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RLU-1
- Registration
- N32BP · registry record · serial 30R4
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LANDING, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND TURNED OVER. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WHEEL BRAKES REVEALED NO MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. REPORTEDLY, THERE WAS A CROSSWIND FROM THE LEFT AT 5 KTS.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 684 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 636 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 290 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-GPU (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Plainwell MI at 8:30 am
- Destination: Ebensburg PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 158°F (70°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.