Accident description
languages:
| Status: | Preliminary - official |
| Date: | 12 FEB 2009 |
| Time: | 22:17 |
| Type: | de Havilland Canada DHC-8-402 Q400 |
| Operator: | Colgan Air |
| Registration: | N200WQ |
| C/n / msn: | 4200 |
| First flight: | 2008 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 44 / Occupants: 44 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 49 / Occupants: 49 |
| Ground casualties: | Fatalities: 1 |
| Airplane damage: | Destroyed |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 10 km (6.3 mls) NE of Buffalo Niagara International Airport, NY (BUF) (United States of America)
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| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Newark-Liberty International Airport, NJ (EWR/KEWR), United States of America |
| Buffalo Niagara International Airport, NY (BUF/KBUF), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 3407 |
A Colgan Air, DHC-8-400, N200WQ, operating as Continental Connection flight 3407, crashed during an instrument approach to runway 23 at the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport (BUF), Buffalo, New York. The crash site was approximately 5 nautical miles northeast of the airport in Clarence Center, New York, and mostly confined to one residential house (6038 Long St, Clarence) . The four flight crew and 45 passengers were fatally injured and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire. There was one ground fatality. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
Flight CJC3407 departed Newark-Liberty International Airport, NJ (EWR) at 21:20 on a domestic flight to Buffalo Airport, NY (BUF). At 22:15 the Buffalo Approach controller cleared the flight for an ILS approach to runway 23. The crew selected the landing gear down and flaps were set at 15 degrees. Immediately after flap selection the stick shaker activated. Evidence suggest that the captain pulled on the controls, slowing the airplane further down instead of pushing the nose down to regain speed. The airplane stalled and crashed into a house.
Weather reported about the time of the accident (03:20 UTC):
KBUF 130254Z 24015G22KT 3SM -SN BR FEW011 BKN021 OVC027 01/M01 A2979 RMK AO2 SLP097 P0001 60004 T00061006 51015=
[Wind 240 degrees at 15 kts, gusting to 22kts; light snow, mist with a visibility of 3 miles; few clouds 1,100 ft.; broken clouds 2,100 ft.; overcast 2,700 ft. Temperature 0.6°C, Dewpoint -0.6°C]
KBUF 130354Z 24011KT 3SM -SN BR SCT011 OVC021 01/M01 A2981 RMK AO2 SLP103 P0002 T00061006=
[Wind 240 degrees at 11 kts; light snow, mist with a visibility of 3 miles; scattered clouds 1,100 ft.; overcast 2,100 ft.;Temperature 0.6°C, Dewpoint -0.6°C
Events:
Sources:
» The Buffalo News
» NTSB
Statistics
11th loss of a DHC-8
The worst accident involving a DHC-8 (at the time)
The worst accident involving a DHC-8 (currently)
57th worst accident in United States of America (at the time)
57th worst accident in United States of America (currently) » figures explained
The worst accident involving a DHC-8 (at the time)
The worst accident involving a DHC-8 (currently)
57th worst accident in United States of America (at the time)
57th worst accident in United States of America (currently) » figures explained
Photos
Video/animation
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Newark-Liberty International Airport, NJ (EWR/KEWR) to Buffalo Niagara International Airport, NY (BUF/KBUF) as the crow flies is 451 km (282 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
Distance from Newark-Liberty International Airport, NJ (EWR/KEWR) to Buffalo Niagara International Airport, NY (BUF/KBUF) as the crow flies is 451 km (282 miles).
