Continental 3407 Crashes outside Buffalo

Continental flight 3407 crashed in Clarance, New York, just outside of Buffalo at approximately 10:17pm.

Flight 3407 was en-route from Newark Liberty International Airport to Buffalo Niagara International Airport when it crashed 5 miles short of the runway. All 45 passengers and 4 crew members perished.

The aircraft nose-dived into a house where one of the occupants was killed. The two other members of the household made it out alive as a large fire engulfed both the house and aircraft.

Colgan Air operated flight 3407 as a Continental Connection flight on behalf of Continental Airlines.

The Cockpit Voicer Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) were recovered by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and sent to Washington, D.C. for analysis. Both recorders are reported in good shape.

Icing may have been a contributing factor to the crash. The CVR recorded the crew talking about significant icing on the windshield and leading edge of the wings according to an initial report by the NTSB. The FDR indicates the aircraft made uncontrolled pitch and roll movements once the landing gear was extended and the flaps were set to 15 degrees.

The pilot immediately retracted the landing gear and brought the flaps back up in an attempt to re-gain control of the aircraft. At just 1500 feet above the ground, the plane crashed within seconds.

Anti-Icing was enabled during the entire series of events. The plane involved, a 74 seat Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 turbo-prop, uses a boot for de-icing the wing. The boot expands and contracts, causing the ice to break away. It is not known if the system was not functioning properly or if too much ice accumulated on the wing, causing the pilots to lose positive control of the aircraft.

US Airways & Delta Air Lines jets preparing to land both reported icing to Air Traffic Control. Rime Icing was also reported in the area, a granular type of icing that has the potential to be particularly dangerous.

Weather at the Buffalo Airport was reported as a snow / sleet mix, 33 degrees (F), visibility of 3 miles, and winds of 10 to 15 mph out of the west-southwest when the accident occurred. Freezing Rain was also reported in the area.

Continental Airlines issued a statement expressing its profound sadness concerning the accident involving flight 3407, operated by Colgan Air, that occurred Thursday night near Buffalo. Larry Kellner, Chairman and CEO of Continental Airlines said, "Continental extends its deepest sympathy to the family members and loved ones of those involved in this accident .... We are providing our full assistance to Colgan Air so that together we can provide as much support as possible for all concerned."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the family members and loved ones of those involved in the flight 3407 tragedy," Kellner added. Continental has sent representatives from their headquarters in Houston to provide assistance.

This is the first fatal airline crash in the United States since the Comair (Delta Connection 5191) crash in Lexington, Kentucky, on August 27, 2006.

Updated: February 14, 2009.