Buffalo Plane Crash

Friday, February 13, 2009 by Joseph L. Messa
Airplane crashes can be caused by a multitude of different reasons:
Poor maintenance
Inadequately trained maintenance personnel
Inadequate pilot training
Pilot error
Air traffic controller error
Inadequate safety precautions
Other
Weather Conditions
In each case, there can be several different factors that contribute to a plane crash. The recent tragic crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 is no different. Investigators are not yet sure what caused the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400, a 74-seat turboprop, to crash into a home in Clarence Center, New York, about seven miles outside of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
The plane had taken off from Newark International Airport and was bound for Buffalo Niagara. The National Transportation Safety Board has recovered the flight cockpit voice and data recorders (the black boxes), but the cause of the crash is still under investigation. According to the Associated Press, experts were analyzing data from the black boxes, including statements by crew members about a buildup of ice on the wings and windshield of the plane, Chealander said. A full report will likely take a year.
"We're in the very early stages of the investigation," he said. "The icing and other things are just preliminary focuses."
One aspect of the investigation will focus on the crew, how they were trained and whether they had enough time to rest between flights. Other investigators focused on the weather, the mechanics of the plane and whether the engine, wings and various mechanics of the plane operated as they were designed to.
But authorities have yet to pin that as the cause of the crash, which occurred during a light snow and mist, killing 49 people on the flight and one man in the home.
Ice on wings can cripple an aircraft and has been blamed for several previous plane crashes. Other aircraft in the area Thursday night told air traffic controllers it also experienced icing around the time that Flight 3407 from Newark, N.J., to Buffalo went down. Other flight crews landing at Buffalo Niagara have reported wing icing, though it is not clear at this time if this was a factor in the traffic crash.
All 49 passengers and crew on board the plane were killed when it went down at about 10:20 PM Thursday evening. Another person was killed when the plane struck his home. Two other occupants of the home were treated and released from the local hospital for relatively minor injuries.
Residents were evacuated from the crash area, and people are being cautioned to stay away from the scene, so that evidence will be properly preserved and investigators determine what caused the crash.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an airplane accident, it is in your best interest to seek the advice of the aviation accident lawyers at Messa & Associates for a full evaluation of the details of your case. Their expert advice comes from years of experience helping victims of accidents acquire the compensation that is essential for putting life back together after a tragedy. A consultation is available to you at no charge and at a time of your convenience. Call 1-866-403-4LAW (1-866-403-4529) today to speak with a legal expert about the best ways to restore your life to the quality it had prior to a difficult experience. Messa & Associates will help you overcome the obstacles.
Family, friends, and loved ones of those on the Continental Connection Flight 3407 were directed to Clarence Municipal Center and can call this helpline for further information regarding their loved ones: 1-800-621-3263.