Amateur-built RANS S-7 accident near Palmer, Massachusetts, August 27, 1994
On August 27, 1994 at about 6:52 pm local time, a amateur-built RANS S-7, registered N44AL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palmer, Massachusetts (Palmer Metropolitan airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 1994 · about 6:52 pm local time
- Place
- Palmer, Massachusetts · Palmer Metropolitan
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANS S-7
- Registration
- N44AL · registry record · serial 12-86 005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was on initial takeoff climb from runway 22 when the engine lost power. The pilot reported the takeoff was normal, but upon reaching about 75 feet, the engine began to lose power. Since the engine was still producing some power, he elected to fly a right downwind and return for landing. The engine continued to lose power, and as he made his turn back to the runway, total power loss occurred. Thereafter the airplane stalled and struck the ground nose low and banking to the right. Witnesses reported the airplane cartwheeled across the ground. The airplane came rest several yards west of the runway. Examination of the airplane, which included a satisfactory engine test run, did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction. This was the pilot's first flight in type aircraft. The flight was to familiarize The pilot with the airplane, so he could give dual instruction to the owner.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 408 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 369 as pilot in command; 35 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 80 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 LC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,475 ft by 55 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from CEF, 5 miles away
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 N44AL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number BFO94LA152.