Amateur-built Renegade accident near Stow, Massachusetts, October 7, 2004
On October 7, 2004 at about 6:15 pm local time, a amateur-built Renegade, registered N210SQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stow, Massachusetts (Minute Man airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which resulted in the airplane's inability to climb over a stand of trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 2004 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Stow, Massachusetts · Minute Man · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Renegade
- Registration
- N210SQ · registry record · serial REN 575
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The homebuilt airplane was flown earlier in the day with no deficiencies noted. After landing, the pilot refueled the airplane and completed a preflight inspection prior to departure. After takeoff, the airplane " ...just didn't have the power it normally has." The pilot never looked at the instruments, and couldn't estimate the engine rpm, but thought the engine sounded "normal." The airplane could not climb above a stand of trees in the takeoff path, but the pilot was able to maneuver around it. A second stand of trees in the takeoff path could not be avoided, and the airplane could not climb over it. The airplane struck the trees and came to rest suspended in them without injury to the occupants. A detailed examination of the engine revealed only impact damage, and no mechanical anomolies. According to FAA Advisory Circular AC-20-27D, Certification and Operation of Amateur-Built Aircraft: "FAA inspections of amateur-built aircraft have been limited to ensuring the use of acceptable workmanship methods, techniques, practices, and issuing operating limitations necessary to protect persons and property not involved in this activity."
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 8,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 2, 2004
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 160 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 2004; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6B6 Stow MA at 6:15 pm
- Destination: WST Westerly RI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 2,770 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from BED, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N210SQ 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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 IAD05LA002.