Amateur-built RL4-1 accident near Andover, Massachusetts, July 9, 1982
On July 9, 1982 at about 4:00 pm local time, a amateur-built RL4-1, registered N2343, was substantially damaged in an accident near Andover, Massachusetts. 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 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
- July 9, 1982 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Andover, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RL4-1
- Registration
- N2343 · registry record · serial 83532
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLT THE PLT FELT SOMETHING SNAP OR BREAK ON THE ACFT. THE CONTROL WHEEL MOVEMENT FOR THE AILERON BECAME EXCEEDINGLY HARDER TO MOVE & THE ACFT STARTED TO FLUTTER IN AN UP & DOWN MOTION. HE REDUCED POWER TO SLOW THE FLUTTERINGACTION, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE ON A GOLF COURSE & THE ACFT ROLLED INTO A SAND TRAP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE UPPER LEFT LONGERON LOCATED NEAR THE REAR PLT'S SEAT WAS BROKEN & THE TUBING SPLIT. IT HAD FAILED JUST BEHIND THE REAR SEAT AT THE TUBING CLUSTER WELD. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE REAR EDGE OF THE CLUSTER WELD IN THE AREA WHICH SHOWED THE MOST HEAT PENETRATION OF THE BASE METAL THEN PROGRESSING AROUND THE TUBE.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 147 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 72 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 653 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tewksbury MA at 11:30 am
- Destination: North Hampton NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 16 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 176°F (80°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.
Other NTSB records under N2343 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.