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CC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:05 AM
Original message
Airliner crashes in US state of NY
Source: CNN (TV)











No link yet.



Breaking on CNN. Large commercial airplane has crashed into a house in Buffalo, NY.
Will update with link as soon at it appears.
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:06 AM
Response to Original message
1. oh no - it's been horribly windy in central NY today. My flight home last night was rough
but I'm very glad I didn't fly today.
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:07 AM
Response to Original message
2. Buffalo News has it - 49 dead (updated 12:41am)
Edited on Fri Feb-13-09 12:46 AM by Muttocracy
photos at link

http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/577959.html

Updated: 02/13/09 12:41 AM

49 killed as plane crashes into Clarence Center home

Forty-nine people reportedly died when an aircraft identified as a Continental Airlines flight crashed into a house in Clarence Center shortly after 10 p.m. last night, starting a huge fire which poured thick smoke throughout the hamlet.

Unconfirmed reports from a source at Buffalo Niagara International Airport said that the dead included 44 passengers, four crew members and a person on the ground.

County Executive Chris Collins said that there may have been as many as 50 people aboard the plane and crew members had reported mechanical problems as they approached Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Several injured people were taken from the scene to Erie County Medical Center for treatment.

Television reports said the crash site was 6050 Long St., not far from the Clarence Center Fire Hall on Clarence Center Road. Police said that one man was in the residence at the time of the crash.

Authorities say Continental Airlines Flight 3407 was operated by Manassas, Va.-based Colgan Air. It was en route from Newark, N.J., to Buffalo.
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CC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:18 AM
Response to Reply #2
12. Thanks for the link, I
was looking for one. I had just switched channels.


My heart goes out to all. They are getting ready to have a news conference.




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myrna minx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:25 AM
Response to Reply #2
21. Oh, that's awful. My friend is going from NYC to San Francisco, so my heart skipped.
I feel so badly for the families. :cry:
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HeresyLives Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:07 AM
Response to Original message
3. Merde.
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HerbieHeadhunter Donating Member (382 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:08 AM
Response to Original message
4. Continental flight into Buffalo*
nm
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HerbieHeadhunter Donating Member (382 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:10 AM
Response to Reply #4
7. Newark to Buffalo*
nm
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:15 AM
Response to Reply #7
9. delete - not sure which flight
Edited on Fri Feb-13-09 12:24 AM by Muttocracy
delete
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Still Sensible Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:17 AM
Response to Reply #9
10. Flightstats link, CO3407
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PaddyBlueEyes Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:17 AM
Response to Reply #9
11. They are saying its a continental flight
48 on board. hit a house..no survivors on board and at least one fatality on the ground...hit a house.
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:20 AM
Response to Reply #11
15. ExpressJet is the carrier for many Continental flights up here
Edited on Fri Feb-13-09 01:03 AM by Muttocracy
I was on a plane of about 36 passengers last night.
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:31 AM
Response to Reply #15
31. NYT now says Colgan Air
Edited on Fri Feb-13-09 01:01 AM by Muttocracy
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sabbat hunter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:47 AM
Response to Reply #31
49. Colgan air
works as Continental Connection (owned by Continental airlines) out of Newark
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Tangerine LaBamba Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:09 AM
Response to Original message
5. CNN said
it was a prop plane.

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SidDithers Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:48 PM
Response to Reply #5
133. Was a Dash-8...nt
Sid
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AyanEva Donating Member (428 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:09 AM
Response to Original message
6. What is it with crashing planes lately?
Those images are awful. :( I hope no one was in that house but since it's nighttime when people are sleeping, I'm not holding out hope.

Damn. They just said there was at least one person in the house. How awful.
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aquart Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:21 AM
Response to Reply #6
17. Just emailed my cousin in Buffalo to make sure it's not HIS house.
Yes, it's unlikely but who the hell knows.
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PaddyBlueEyes Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:23 AM
Response to Reply #17
20. Long street
in Clarence Center...Buffalo Burb.
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:26 AM
Response to Reply #20
23. Looks like only 10 miles from the airport. nt
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AyanEva Donating Member (428 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:27 AM
Response to Reply #17
26. I hope he checks out OK!
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Renew Deal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:46 AM
Response to Reply #6
47. Second plane crash in NY in a few weeks
Thanfully the other one went better
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devilgrrl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:15 AM
Response to Original message
8. Awful!
That's the first air crash that I can remember in the WNY.

:-(
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Lindsey Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:18 AM
Response to Reply #8
13. I guess it just happened. I was set to watch Larry King (repeat)
@ 9:00 Cal. time when the news broke.
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PaddyBlueEyes Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:20 AM
Response to Reply #13
16. went down at approx 10:30pm NY time
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babylonsister Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:18 AM
Response to Original message
14. Watching. Chaotic, 48 people on the plane, and they crashed into
a home. :cry:

Don't know what's happening.
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PaddyBlueEyes Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:21 AM
Response to Reply #14
18. I work in law enforcement
no survivors on plane.
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babylonsister Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:26 AM
Response to Reply #18
24. You are right.
My DH works for Continental. :( My heart hurts.
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:57 AM
Response to Reply #24
62. Give 'em a hug when you can
I so appreciate the pilots. Yesterday they gave us an amazing smooth landing in sleet/snow/rain/wind at night!
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babylonsister Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:30 AM
Response to Reply #62
84. He's not a pilot. Maintenance reliability. I don't often think it's a pilot problem,
or a maintenance one. Hard to tell. Weather? Who knows?
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:32 AM
Response to Reply #84
86. I appreciate maintenance too! I expect weather - lots of clouds, snow, sleet, wind :(
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Dennis Donovan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 06:12 AM
Response to Reply #84
107. Conditions were ripe for icing...
OAT was 32 degrees, vis was 4 mi, feezing rain.

Given that the crew gave no indication of an issue w/ the aircraft, I'm leaning towards icing.

Is your husband an A&P, sis?:hi:
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babylonsister Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 10:41 AM
Response to Reply #107
127. He has an A&P, yes, for years.
Was a navigator in the CG years ago when he got it. :hi:

It's sounding like weather, but still so tragic.
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question everything Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:33 AM
Response to Reply #18
34. That's awful
especially after the "miracle on the Hudson."

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flyarm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:22 AM
Response to Original message
19. It was a regional for Continental..Newark to Buffalo.
FAA report 48 on board.
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SoCalDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:26 AM
Response to Original message
22. How sad...nt.
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Dr.Phool Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:27 AM
Response to Original message
25. A friend of mine is a pilot for Continental.
He was on regionals jets for a while after 9/11, but moved back up to the big ones. With all the cuts I hope he wasn't moved back down again.
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Aviation Pro Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:28 AM
Response to Original message
27. Either a CRJ-200 or an ERJ-145......
....business jets turned into communters. They were never meant to cycle as many times as they do.
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babylonsister Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:29 AM
Response to Reply #27
30. I understand the weather sucked, too. Let's wait and see. nt
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Psephos Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:07 AM
Response to Reply #27
71. Report I saw was that the plane was a Q400 turboprop
No business jet lineage, AFAIK.

http://wcbstv.com/breakingnewsalerts/continental.airlines.crash.2.934393.html

Best of luck to your friends, btw.
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ColbertWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:28 AM
Response to Original message
28. Anyone know if it was weather-related?
Here's a map from the Weather Underground: http://www.wunderground.com/US/Region/Northeast/2xPrecip.html

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Renew Deal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:28 AM
Response to Reply #28
29. There's heavy wind on LI
Probably Buffalo too
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Retrograde Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:01 AM
Response to Reply #29
63. Buffalo's 400 miles from LI
It's a big state.

Buffalo often has interesting weather conditions, and, since it's a small airport, the planes that fly into it tend to be smaller. I've had a few interesting flights there.
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:02 AM
Response to Reply #63
66. we had 45mph wind gusts in Central NY, rain and sleet this evening
but yeah, Buffalo can be very different due to the lakes.
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:32 AM
Response to Reply #28
33. We were having 45 mph wind gusts today, power outages
Edited on Fri Feb-13-09 12:34 AM by Muttocracy
between Syracuse and Binghamton - Continental cancelled or delayed many flights today
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Aviation Pro Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:42 AM
Response to Reply #28
40. METARs (Routine Aviation Weather Observations) from Buffalo
KBUF 130505Z COR 25012KT 4SM -SN BR BKN008 BKN015 OVC021 01/00 A2983 RMK AO2 CIG 005V011 P0000
KBUF 130458Z 25012KT 3SM -FZRA BR BKN008 OVC015 01/00 A2983 RMK AO2 FZRAB58SNE58 CIG 005V012 P0000
KBUF 130454Z 26014KT 3SM -SN BR SCT011 OVC021 01/00 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP109 P0004 T00060000 401060000
KBUF 130354Z 24011KT 3SM -SN BR SCT011 OVC021 01/M01 A2981 RMK AO2 SLP103 P0002 T00061006
KBUF 130254Z 24015G22KT 3SM -SN BR FEW011 BKN021 OVC027 01/M01 A2979 RMK AO2 SLP097 P0001 60004 T00061006 51015

The top line is deciphered as the following: Date/time Feb 13/0505 GMT (Feb 12/1205AM) Corrected (the observations are always posted for an accident at the time of the accident), winds west-southwest at 12 knots (13 MPH), visibility 4 statute mile, light snow, mist, ceilings broken at 800', broken at 1500' overcast at 2100'; temperature 33 degrees F; dew point 32 degrees F; altimeter 29.83 inches of mercury; remarks (precipitation discriminator) ceiling varying between 500 and 1100'; no precipitation recorded.

I suspect that icing was a factor in this terrible accident.
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illuminaughty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:57 AM
Response to Reply #40
60. Do you remember the flight out of Washington National in January 1982?
It was an icing problem and it barely got airborne, hit the bridge and went in the Potomac. Killed 78 people. The anniversary was just days from the "miracle on the Hudson". Just a very different outcome.
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Stinky The Clown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:02 AM
Response to Reply #60
67. Air Florida Flight 90.
The circumstances that made the way for one of America's **true** heros - Lenny Skutnik.



The aftermath

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illuminaughty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:55 AM
Response to Reply #67
91. Oh, husb...you're Stinky now? I just noticed.
I forgot all about Lenny Skutnik. I remember watching this as it happened because a friend was leaving out of that airport at the time.

I've got to make of these name changes. I have so many posters that I stalk for their humor. Afraid you're on the list, I just hadn't noticed you'd morphed into your avatar.;)
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Aviation Pro Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:04 AM
Response to Reply #60
68. Very....
...we use the Air Florida 90 accident as a case study.
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Art_from_Ark Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:32 AM
Response to Reply #60
87. As I remember, there were several survivors from the DC crash
Edited on Fri Feb-13-09 01:34 AM by Art_from_Ark
Quite a few of them were helped by a mystery man, who ended up giving up his own life so that others could live.

On edit-- Lenny Skutnik was apparently the "mystery man". I think this may be the first time I heard his name. He was a real hero.
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RamboLiberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 11:09 AM
Response to Reply #87
128. No Lenny Skutnik was not the mystery man
Lenny was a bystander who jumped in to help save one of the survivors who fell off the copter line. Lenny survived and was at one of Reagan's SOTU. The mystery man was a passenger who was apparently stuck in the wreckage and passed the line from copter to other survivors. I'm at work now so don't have time to look up the mystery man's name. It took quite awhile to figure out who he was.
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tuckessee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:04 PM
Response to Reply #128
132. Mystery man was passenger Arland D. Williams, Jr., age 50.
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Art_from_Ark Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-14-09 02:56 AM
Response to Reply #132
138. Thanks for clearing that up
:-)

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Dr.Phool Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:24 AM
Response to Reply #40
80. First thing I thought.
33degrees on the ground with snow and sleet = about 22 degrees at 3-4000 feet, possible icing in the clouds.
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DJ13 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:31 AM
Response to Original message
32. CNN live available on Blinko
Use the arrow buttons beside the three choices listed to find CNN.......

http://blinkotv.com/online-demos/skin/NEWCINEMA#player
BlinkoTV | FREE iPTV Broadcasters
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Stinky The Clown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:37 AM
Response to Original message
35. MSNBC: 50 passenger commuter plane ... DeHaviland 8
Edited on Fri Feb-13-09 12:37 AM by Stinky The Clown
Colgan Air 3407 (flying as Continental) The plane looks like this one. Most of us know this as a Dash 8.

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Renew Deal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:39 AM
Response to Reply #35
37. Fox news says 49 people dead
I just saw that on Blinko. A CBS link said the people got out of the house. They also said it was a small plane. I have to wonder if that's true.
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Aviation Pro Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:45 AM
Response to Reply #35
45. I was nose to nose with this type of airplane a week ago....
...in Ottawa. Now I really suspect icing.
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MicaelS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:14 AM
Response to Reply #45
75. I hate commuter turboprops
Seem like too damn many of the things have been involved in fatal accidents over the last 30 years. Far out of proportion to the number of pure jet airliners. And it seems like every time a turboprop goes down it's a 100% fatality.

What's your professional opinion?
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Aviation Pro Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:25 AM
Response to Reply #75
81. Q400 (the extended Dash-8) produced by Bombardier is a quality aircraft.....
...ATR 72 that went down over Roselawn is also a good aircraft. I'm waiting for more information.
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bdab1973 Donating Member (597 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 02:24 AM
Response to Reply #75
95. The fact that it's a turboprop has nothing to do with the safety record
Most commuter airplane crashes have occurred because of human factors in the cockpit, not because it's got propellers. I have flown both turboprops and jets, and I see no difference from a safety standpoint.
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BlueCollar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 08:02 AM
Response to Reply #75
118. I've been working on airplanes for over thirty years
Everything from 747 to small twins and some military stuff too.

Turboprops are very efficient, and in some cases a better choice than jets.

I'd fly on one anytime.
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:16 AM
Response to Reply #35
78. some reports say Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 - longer plane? had ~50 seats. nt
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TahitiNut Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:21 AM
Response to Reply #35
79. I flown in a lot of Dash-8's (Horizon AIr) in eastern Washington. Durable aircraft.
Edited on Fri Feb-13-09 01:28 AM by TahitiNut
Pilots seem to like 'em. Noisy for me.
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footinmouth Donating Member (630 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:37 AM
Response to Original message
36. So scary
This is very close to home. I just picked up my son this morning from the Buffalo Airport and I have another one coming in tomorrow afternoon. The crash site is about 5 miles from the airport. They just had a press conference but the audio was so bad I couldn't hear much. We just don't have air incidents here so this is such a shock.

I believe there was one person in the house when it hit. They said it was demolished in 20 seconds.
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:53 AM
Response to Reply #36
57. thanks for that update. nt
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Stinky The Clown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:39 AM
Response to Original message
38. 6 miles short of the runway
Plane was on approach.

No word of distress call before crash.
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Aviation Pro Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:43 AM
Response to Reply #38
42. They were established on the localizer I suspect.....
....and were right in the thick of icing conditions.
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:55 AM
Response to Reply #42
58. NYT says light snow, which is what we've had the last few hours (plus strong wind gusts)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/nyregion/13crash.html?hp

Many flight canceled in NYS yesterday and today - my flight last night was one of the most alarming I've ever been on, though they had a great landing.
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bdab1973 Donating Member (597 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 02:37 AM
Response to Reply #58
99. I've landed in those conditions many times...
Snow and wind can compound a situation, but these aircraft are designed to fly through weather like that. Only during heavy snow/severe icing and perhaps extreme wind, would it then become dangerous. But I do remember landing at Bangor, ME once, were the winds on final approach were so high I was looking at the runway through the copilot's window, and there was plenty of snow and icing to go along with that. But we had the leading edges fired up (the Learjet 35 has heated wing leading edges) and flew the approach at flaps 20 (not full flaps, so the effect of the crosswind wasn't too bad) and didn't worry too much about runway distance because Bangor has a huge runway.

Most times, there is generally a human factor that leads to these accidents. I'm not saying it was necessarily crew error, but often times the human factors on the flight deck fail to catch other errors that lead to an accident sequence (accidents are rarely stand-alone incidents...it's usually always a chain of events). One of the things I teach now is error management, because as pilots, that's perhaps our best way to avoid these scenarios before they are unrecoverable.
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bdab1973 Donating Member (597 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 02:28 AM
Response to Reply #42
96. This sounds familiar...
As always, I'll withhold any firm ideas about what happened until the NTSB investigates. However, being a flight safety rep, mishap investigator for the USAF, I've seen too many times where aircraft will get established on final at night in IMC and simply let the airplane get too slow. If they were in icing, it would only compound the problem. Of course there could be a number of other scenarios too, and the above scenario is just one of those. However, it's a common one.
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Aviation Pro Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 10:19 AM
Response to Reply #96
126. ATC transmission from Approach handed them off to Tower....
...close to, what I suspect, was the FAF. I'm going to guess that they dropped the gear at the OM and configured the flaps a little too quickly. That and an elevator overwhelmed by icing may have led to the accident. I do not know the anti-icing protection of the Q-400 on the empennage, so like you I will wait for NTSB.
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Stinky The Clown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:42 AM
Response to Original message
39. MSNBC: No survivors
44 pax plus crew of 4
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4lbs Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:57 AM
Response to Reply #39
61. Add in those in the home(s) impacted and possibly others nearby on the ground
n/t
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illuminaughty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:42 AM
Response to Original message
41. I just duped this.
Very little info. Video now coming on. Huge amount of emergency vehicles.
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Stinky The Clown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:44 AM
Response to Original message
43. Crap weather in Buffalo
Light rain and freezing rain. 33 degrees at time of crash (10.10 PM EST). Wind WNW at 15 - 20. Good visibility (9.0 miles)
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Aviation Pro Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:46 AM
Response to Reply #43
48. METAR indicated 4 SM visibility for the airport and surrounding area.....
....
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Stinky The Clown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:47 AM
Response to Reply #48
51. I got mine from the weather channel
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sabbat hunter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:47 AM
Response to Reply #43
52. pilot
reported mechanical difficulties (supposedly) on final descent.
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Stinky The Clown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:51 AM
Response to Reply #52
55. They're now saying weather was an issue .... icing?
That could account for initial "mechanical difficulties" call. (Slow control surfaces?)
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bdab1973 Donating Member (597 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 02:31 AM
Response to Reply #55
97. Maybe, maybe not
Icing in itself isn't something that will automatically doom a flight. Most turbine aircraft are equipped to fly in all but the most heavy of icing. The Dash-8 I think has deice boots, which should remove accumulated ice, although that's if you use them. Ice usually does not inhibit an aircraft's control surfaces, except perhaps in severe icing conditions.
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AP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 09:06 AM
Response to Reply #97
123. It looks like on this plane the pilot can't see the wing/ice accumulation
so you wouldn't know you should de-ice unless other planes (on which you can see ice accumulation) are reporting that it's happening?

So if this was the first plane to get ice on the wing at that time and in that place...???


Does that sound right?
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bdab1973 Donating Member (597 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 05:48 PM
Response to Reply #123
135. Standard procedure...
Whenever we flew into icing conditions (the crew had to know it...often times ice will build on the windows as well, plus I'm sure the weather reports stated that ice was a factor) we had the leading edges turned on. I'm sure these guys at least knew to cycle the de-ice boots (assuming a Dash 8 has deice boots versus heated leading edges).
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:44 AM
Response to Original message
44. WGRZ coverage - photos of huge fire :(
Edited on Fri Feb-13-09 12:45 AM by Muttocracy
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Stinky The Clown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:45 AM
Response to Original message
46. Originated in Newark
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Aviation Pro Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:47 AM
Response to Reply #46
50. I know a lot of people at Colgan.....
....I am waiting.
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:01 AM
Response to Reply #50
64. ...
:hug:
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Stinky The Clown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:49 AM
Response to Original message
53. Statement is now out ("officials saying") crash was weather related
Rain and sleet
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Aviation Pro Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:51 AM
Response to Reply #53
54. Official weather at time of accident is always an NWS METAR.....
...a lot of pilots use the Weather Channel to update their briefing before departing, but it is not official weather.
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:53 AM
Response to Original message
56. Deleted sub-thread
Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
Born_A_Truman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 12:55 AM
Response to Original message
59. ATC recording. No mayday.
http://archive-server.liveatc.net/kbuf/KBUF-Feb-13-2009-0300Z.mp3

Female pilot Colgan 3407 - everything sounded normal.

My prayers go out to the families of the crew and passengers.
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Aviation Pro Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:02 AM
Response to Reply #59
65. Do you have a time hack on that recording?
.....
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Born_A_Truman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:06 AM
Response to Reply #65
69. Not sure what that is, sorry.
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Aviation Pro Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:07 AM
Response to Reply #65
70. Never mind.....
...
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Aviation Pro Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:16 AM
Response to Reply #70
76. From ATC: Descended to 2300', left heading 330, vectoring for the ILS....
...left heading 310, left turn to 260 to establish on the localizer, cleared for the ILS 23, contact tower 120.05. That was last transmission from 3407. Approach tried to establish contact and asked an aircraft in trail to look for a Dash-8. Another aircraft requested a continuous climb for icing.
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bdab1973 Donating Member (597 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 02:58 AM
Response to Reply #76
102. Slow, configuring, busy cockpit + icing...
Familiar scene, eh?


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Aviation Pro Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 08:45 AM
Response to Reply #102
121. Too familiar....
....I didn't think they were behind the aircraft.
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TrogL Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 11:57 AM
Response to Reply #65
131. I think that's her at 15:25
Edited on Fri Feb-13-09 12:09 PM by TrogL
17:43 pilot asked to look for the Dash 8

19:15 pilot mentions icing

20:56 Sherriff's department asked to look for aircraft

21:15 another pilot talks about icing

23:08 pilot complaining about rime ice "for awhile"

24:10 "Dash 8 didn't make the airport"

25:00 several pilots mentioning ice

28:00 "Did you find Crogan?"

28:10 "Unfortunately, Crogan went down right over the marker"

29:29 "we saw the ground - you know what's going on"

29:50 "yes, we know"
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Stinky The Clown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:11 AM
Response to Reply #59
73. That .... is eerie.
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Trajan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:08 AM
Response to Original message
72. This will be a topic of conversation at work friday ....
We produce the HUD for Dash 8 - Though I am not sure if Continental uses our HUD ....
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Aviation Pro Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:16 AM
Response to Reply #72
77. Same here....
.....
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babylonsister Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:57 AM
Response to Reply #72
92. Yes it will.
Everyone will be wondering what happened.
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Holly_Hobby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:12 AM
Response to Original message
74. MSNBC: Plane was on fire in the air n/t
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rvablue Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:27 AM
Response to Reply #74
82. Was just watching CNN and eyewitness via telephone didn't see this...
Not saying that what you are saying is wrong, of course, just sharing info.

This guy was driving down the street where the plane crashed. He said it was nose down, skewed a bit to the left. He said he saw nothing visibly wrong with the plane but that the engines sounded weird.

God bless all of those poor souls and their families. So, so sad.
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Dr.Phool Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:33 AM
Response to Reply #82
88. The engines were probably wide open, trying to regain altitude.
The witness said there was no spiral, nose down, left wing down slightly.

Classic stall.
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rvablue Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:36 AM
Response to Reply #88
90. You seem to have expertise on this matter. I have a question....why no mayday call then? n/t
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Dr.Phool Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 02:01 AM
Response to Reply #90
93. I only have a private license, with some commercial instruction.
At that altitude, it probably got out of control so fast, there was no time for a mayday. Your first instinct is to regain control.
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KDLarsen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 02:15 AM
Response to Reply #93
94. Might just be me..
.. but I thought I heard the PNF (Pilot Not Flying, ie the one handling the radio) call out 3407 before she was 'stepped on'. It was right after hand-off to tower, so might just have been acknowledging the hand-off.
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Dr.Phool Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 02:33 AM
Response to Reply #94
98. I'll have to listen again.
But, I thought the same thing. Just acknowledging the hand-off.
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bdab1973 Donating Member (597 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 02:56 AM
Response to Reply #90
101. There often is no mayday call
Pilots are often task saturated trying to recover the aircraft to worry about giving a mayday call. Sending out maydays, setting the transponder to 7700...all of those things are done IF YOU HAVE TIME. They are not mandatory items. Plus, maydays are generally an acknowledgement that the airplane is going down and unrecoverable. Pilots are typically trained to not give up, and saying "mayday" essentially means you've finally said "ah screw it, we're crashing".
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bdab1973 Donating Member (597 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 02:52 AM
Response to Reply #88
100. Witnesses...
I tend to take their statements with a grain of salt. Sometimes they are accurate, but most of the time, they see what they think they should see. When I was in safety school, we did a quick study and in nearly ever case, the witnesses said they heard the engine cutting out, yet in all the cases, the engines were determined to have been running just fine at the time of impact. The final study was done with us as "witnesses". We watched an aircraft break up in mid-air during an airshow (on video), and then the instructor turned it off and asked us to answer questions on a sheet he handed out. Questions were "which wing separated first?", and "was there a fire?", etc. The entire class was not only a class full of aviation safety students, but also all of us were pilots or aircrew (some navigators, etc), and were acutely familiar with aircraft.

In the end, I don't think any of us answered the questions completely accurately, and many people missed the majority of them. It just went to underline the instructor's point, that take witness statements for what they are, and don't put all your eggs in that basket, because often times they aren't accurate, especially since most witnesses have no background in aviation. If WE missed a bunch of questions, then how is Joe on the street who doesn't know squat about airplanes going to answer accurately?

In any case, what you describe is actually a very common fatal accident sequence, and has killed many pilots. Flying in the weather, it's windy and there's icing. No, the weather isn't too dangerous in itself, but it's just enough to be a distractor. On final, you're focused on the landing clearance, setting up and flying the instrument approach, watching the icing on the wings, fighting the wind at altitude, and trying to get the landing checklist accomplished. Next thing you know the stall warnings go off and you realize that you allowed the airplane to get too slow on final. Normally it would be a challenge, but tonight in the turbulent windy air, and in complete instrument conditions, stalling sends you into confusion and you try to remember your training on what to do. By the time you regain your senses, you break out of the cloud deck and the last thing you see is the ground.

I'm NOT saying that's what happened with this flight, but it's a common situation that's repeated itself over the years in airliners, charter flights as well as privately owned airplanes.

As an instructor pilot, the thing I teach my students is to ALWAYS fly the airplane. Don't worry about the radios, or even the navigation stuff, until you've got flying the airplane taken care of. To not do so is the surest way to kill yourself (and others on board). I always write FTFA on the board when I mention this...it means fly the fucking airplane. You can talk, navigate and run checklists like a pro, but if you let the airplane get too slow and stall, all that goes out the window and you still die.
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rvablue Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 11:25 AM
Response to Reply #100
130. Thanks for writing this out
Your post is an example of one of the main reasons I love DU.

I get to insight into areas that I know nothing about.

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Dr.Phool Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:30 AM
Response to Reply #74
85. I was watching MSNBC, and the questions and coverage were so shitty.
I did something that I never do, and switched to CNN.

I'm more inclined to go with Aviation Pro's ATC recording. Following plane requests continuous climb for icing. Ice is nasty shit.
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:28 AM
Response to Original message
83. Long update on Buffalo News
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 01:36 AM
Response to Original message
89. CNN video
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excess_3 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 03:05 AM
Response to Original message
103. avoid flying until there is another crash .n/t
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Muttocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 03:31 AM
Response to Original message
104. widow of 9/11 victim was aboard Flight 3407
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KewlKat Donating Member (867 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 06:10 AM
Response to Reply #104
106. She was the founder of the voices of sept 11
She refused to take the over a million dollars offered to her in the 9/11 settlement and persued trying to find answers. I hope she is now at peace with her husband.

http://www.voicesofsept11.org/dev/index.php
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SpiralHawk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 07:18 AM
Response to Reply #106
109. No one will be at peace until the lies around 9/11 are cleared
too many unanswered questions and suspicious actions...no serious inquiry.
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BlancheSplanchnik Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 09:27 AM
Response to Reply #104
124. very eerie....they're reunited now....
We're in the Finger Lakes under the flight path, Newark to Buff and other destinations.
Weather all day Thurs was really crappy in the hills here.

As a person who hates flying, I always wonder why they take such chances continuing to fly even when the weather is awful....why do they not cancel unless it's the very worst weather imaginable?

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progressoid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 03:35 AM
Response to Original message
105. pic.


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ejpoeta Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 07:15 AM
Response to Original message
108. last night on the news they said it was a small plane.
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illuminaughty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 07:25 AM
Response to Original message
110. Continental Plane crash near Buffalo, New York
Source: CNN late breaking news

A Continental Airlines plane from Newark to Buffalo, New York has crashed into a house in town of Clarence Center. Forty eight people were on board.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/



A Continental Airlines plane from Newark to Buffalo, New York has crashed into a house in town of Clarence Center. Forty eight people were on board. This happened about 10:30 pm Thursday and there is very little news other than on CNN International.

Massive fire at scene of crash. One home completely destroyed. No word on survivors.
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Seen the light Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 07:25 AM
Response to Reply #110
111. Local news is reporting 49 deaths
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illuminaughty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 07:25 AM
Response to Reply #111
113. Thanks. Didn't mean to post dupe. There was nothing
on here when I started posting.
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GreenPartyVoter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 07:25 AM
Response to Reply #110
112. Oh, I am so sorry to see this. *crying* All those poor people!
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smalll Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 07:25 AM
Response to Reply #110
114. Shuffle off (this mortal coil) to Buffalo!
/nt
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alphafemale Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 07:25 AM
Response to Reply #110
115. how horrible
Those poor people.

:cry:
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TahitiNut Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 07:25 AM
Response to Reply #110
116. Duplicate
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Double T Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 07:25 AM
Response to Reply #110
117. Crash site is less than two blocks from my office. This is horrible; there can be no survivors.
Edited on Fri Feb-13-09 01:10 AM by Double T
Sad, very sad. My deepest sympathy to the family and friends of those on board and on the ground.
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bdamomma Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 08:13 AM
Response to Original message
119. how terrible.
:-(
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Blue_Tires Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 08:43 AM
Response to Original message
120. very sad...
how two people in the house survived i will never know...
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baldguy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 08:50 AM
Response to Original message
122. 30 seconds later that might've been my father's house.
He lives about half way between Long Street and the airport.
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a la izquierda Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 09:32 AM
Response to Original message
125. What a terrible, terrible day.
I feel so sorry for the families.
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RamboLiberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 11:16 AM
Response to Original message
129. After the crash, tower warned other planes to watch for icing
Just minutes after Continental Connection Flight 3407 crashed, air traffic controllers began quizzing other pilots about the icy conditions over Buffalo.

A recording of those conversations Thursday night suggests ice may be one of the suspected causes of the nation's deadliest air crash in more than two years.

"Delta 1998, you getting any icing where you're at?" a Buffalo air traffic controller asked just minutes after Continental's 74-seat aircraft went down, killing 49 people.

"We picked it up on the way down," the pilot reponds. "I don't think it's building any more here but about 6,500 (feet) down to 3,500 (feet) maybe."

"We're picking up rime ice here," one pilot tells the tower at Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/578112.html

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Irish Girl Donating Member (265 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 05:39 PM
Response to Original message
134. Plane crashed a few miles from my home
Edited on Fri Feb-13-09 05:40 PM by Irish Girl
Everyone in Western New York is in absolute shock. My heart cries out for the families and Buffalo has rightfully earned it's name of being the City of Good Neighbors. The whole community is pulling together through this horrific tragedy.

I'm so sad right now.

:cry: :cry: :cry:

God bless our local firefighters and other volunteers who bravely reacted so quickly to aid, as much as what can possibly be done at this point.
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RamboLiberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 06:02 PM
Response to Original message
136. Ice is looking more and more like a cause
In the minutes before a turboprop plane plunged to the earth killing all 49 people aboard and one person on the ground, the pilot and crew were recorded discussing "significant ice buildup" on the plane's windshield and the leading edge of the wings, federal investigators said today.

The black boxes recovered from the burning remains of Continental Express Flight 3407 also indicated that the de-icing button in the cockpit had been in the "on" position.

Shortly after that conversation, Capt. Marvin Renslow deployed the plane's landing gear and wing flaps to slow down the plane in preparation for landing.

"Severe pitch and roll within seconds" of the flaps being deployed," said Steven Chealander, spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board. Chealander said that means the plane's nose bucked up and down while the wings dipped and rose violently.

The plane plummeted to the earth so rapidly that Renslow and his crew never had time to radio a mayday alert.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/Business/story?id=6870612&page=1
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Liberalynn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-13-09 06:47 PM
Response to Reply #136
137. Two musicians killed in the Crash
Chuck Mangione is a musician from Rochester, NY. He had a few top forty instrumental hits and wrote some music for the Olympics. Two of his band members, a saxophonist and a guitar player were flying in for a concert and were on this plane.

So sad,my heart goes out to all the families who lost loved ones.

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McCamy Taylor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-14-09 03:29 PM
Response to Original message
139. I never fly Continental since a plane's de-icers failed and the pilot said he would "fly low"
to prevent ice from accumulating on the wings. We were still on the ground in Houston when he made this announcement. I thought we were all going to die. Luckily, air traffic control would not ok this totally hare brained plan, and so Continental had to let us all off the plane and put us up in hotels overnight (it was the last plane of the evening). However, if the air safety people had not vetoed that pilot, we really would have taken off in icing weather with no deicers "flying low" all the way to Dallas to prevent ice build up.

Oh man!

And when I contacted Continental to complain all they did was offer me vouchers for discounts off my next flight. Needless to say I never used them. I wanted to know what their ice policy was!

If anyone has any questions, feel free to private message me.
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