Marvin Renslow

- Was 47-years-old at the time of his death
- Hometown: Shenandoah, IowaChicago Tribune: Pilot in deadly plane crash in New York from Iowa (February 13, 2009)
- Spouse: Sandy RenslowOmaha World Herald: Plane's captain grew up in Shenandoah, Iowa (February 13, 2009)
- Children: Tyler Renslow (18), Kaley Renslow (12)
- Lived in Lutz, FloridaChicago Tribune: Pilot in deadly plane crash in New York from Iowa (February 13, 2009)
- Joined Colgan in September 9, 2005MSNBC: Update: 48 people on board, names of crew members released in Buffalo plane crash (February 13, 2009)
- Had 3,379 hours of flight experienceMSNBC: Update: 48 people on board, names of crew members released in Buffalo plane crash (February 13, 2009)Chicago Tribune: Pilot in deadly plane crash in New York from Iowa (February 13, 2009)
- Continental Airlines Flight 3407 crashed into a residence at 6038 Long St. in Clarence Center, a suburb of Buffalo, New York

Captain Marvin Renslow was a Colgan Air airplane pilot who was the captain of Continental Flight 3407. Renslow, as well as everyone one board and one person on the ground, died in the crash of Flight 3407 on February 12, 2009.MSNBC: Update: 48 people on board, names of crew members released in Buffalo plane crash (February 13, 2009)
Captain Renslow reportedly forced the nose of the plane too high, causing the plane to stall, when he pushed the wrong way on the stick after the stall warning went off. There was also some speculation that Renslow was not adequately trained on the critical computer system for the Dash 8-Q400 Bombardier.NY1: Cockpit Recorder Reveals Chatter Minutes Before Buffalo Crash (May 12, 2009)
Cockpit Voice Recorder Transcript

On May 12, 2009, the National Transportation Safety Board released the cockpit voice recorder transcript during the first day of a three-day hearing in Washington D.C.. The transcript revealed that less than 10 minutes before the plane went down, Captain Renslow told First Officer Rebecca Shaw, "Oh yeah that's the most I've seen, most ice I've seen on the leading edges in a long time, in a while anyway I should say." Shaw responded, "I've never seen icing conditions. I've never de-iced. I've never seen any. I've never experienced any of that. I don't want to have to experience that and make those kinds of calls . . . You know I'd have freaked out. I'd have like seen this much ice and thought, oh my gosh, we were going to crash."NY1: Cockpit Recorder Reveals Chatter Minutes Before Buffalo Crash (May 12, 2009)
Captain Renslow's last words were "Jesus Christ!", followed by Shaw screaming.NY Post: Buffalo Crash Pilots Final Words (May 12, 2009)
No Mechanical Failure

Despite the fact that the initial investigation focused possible ice buildup on the wings and tail, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) later announced that the plane had been working normally. Lorenda Ward of the NTSB said, "Some ice accumulation was likely present on the airplane prior to the initial upset event, but the airplane continued to respond as expected to flight control inputs throughout the accident flight.""NY1: Cockpit Recorder Reveals Chatter Minutes Before Buffalo Crash (May 12, 2009)
Marvin Renslow Early Life

Marvin Renslow was born and raised in Shenandoah, Iowa, the son of the late Dean Renslow and his wife Shirley. Marvin Renslow played football and other sports at Shenandoah High School, and graduated from there in 1979. A devout Christian, Renslow left Shenandoah to pursue a career as a pilot.Chicago Tribune: Pilot in deadly plane crash in New York from Iowa (February 13, 2009) Omaha World Herald: Plane's captain grew up in Shenandoah, Iowa (February 13, 2009)
Crash of Flight 3407

On February 12, 2009, the commuter Flight 3407 was flying between Newark, New Jersey, and Buffalo, New York when it crashed in a residential suburb of Buffalo, killing all 49 on board on one on the ground.WKBW: Continental Connection Flight 3407 Crash, 50 Confirmed Dead (February 13, 2009)
Although the reason the flight went down was not immediately known, several pilots complained that ice had been building up on their wings that day.WKBW: Continental Connection Flight 3407 Crash, 50 Confirmed Dead (February 13, 2009)
Quote

"He was doing what he loved doing. I had great respect for my brother. He had a great sense of humor. He would just leave you in stitches. He was really fun-loving and just such a good friend."—Renslow's sister Shirlene ThiesfeldOmaha World Herald: Plane's captain grew up in Shenandoah, Iowa (February 13, 2009)