Plane Plummeted 20 Times Faster Than Normal

Flight recorders found; cause of crash still unknown

By Sarah Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 16, 2009 9:30 AM CST

(Newser) – Nothing went wrong on Flight 3407 until 26 seconds before the plane slammed into the ground. But in that time, it fell more than 20 times faster than normal, at one point dropping 800 feet in 5 seconds, the Buffalo News reports. Black box recorders found on the ground in Buffalo show that crew members couldn't regain control of the plane after it started rolling and dipping.

It's still unknown what caused the devastating Thursday night crash, which killed all 49 on the plane and one person on the ground. Icing was reported by the Continental crew, but "we have not gotten reports yet suggesting it was severe icing," a National Transportation Safety Board member said. Crews are still searching the crash site for victims and plane parts.

Mourners of the Continental Connection Flight 3407 crash listen to a sermon at Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church in Clarence, NY, on Friday. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

A plane burns after it crashing into a house in Clarence Center, NY, on Thursday. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

Flags fly at half staff at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport on Saturday. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Air France Pilots Didn't Know What Was Happening

Neither co-pilot had been trained for sensor malfunctions, new report says

(AP) - The crew piloting a doomed Air France jet over the Atlantic did not appear to know that the plane was in a stall, despite repeated warning signals, and never informed the passengers that anything was wrong before the jet plunged into the sea, according to new findings released today. Based on cockpit recordings from the crash, the French air accident investigation agency is recommending mandatory training for all pilots to help them fly planes manually and handle a high-altitude stall. More»

Recordings Recovered From Crashed Air France Jet

Investigation among most complex and expensive in history

(AP) - French investigators have recovered all the flight data and cockpit voice recordings from the recorders of an Air France jet found in the Atlantic nearly two years after it crashed, they said today. The recorders were located by underwater robots and hoisted from depths of some 13,000 feet earlier this month , in one of the most expensive and complicated air crash investigations in history. Investigators and victims' families are hoping the recorders will shed light on what sent Flight 447 into the sea on June 1, 2009, as it traveled from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. More»

Air France Recorder Pulled From Atlantic

Investigators hope for clues in 2009 plane crash

(NEWSER) - On the heels of recovering the black box from the doomed Air France flight that fell out of the sky off the Brazilian coast nearly two years ago, French investigators have pulled the cockpit recorder from the depths of the Atlantic, reports the AP. It's not yet certain whether the recorder has held up to the ocean pressure that comes with a resting place 12,800 feet below sea level. But investigators have said they have no shot of determining the cause of the crash without the devices. "It is my heartfelt hope that the data contained in these flight recorders may be used and provide answers," said Air France's CEO in a statement. Click for more on the lost Air France plane. More»

France to Hunt Again for Vanished Rio-Paris Flight

Fourth search for Flight 447's black boxes to begin in February

(AP) - The French government will conduct a fourth search for the flight recorders of the Air France jetliner that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean while flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris 18 months ago, it announced today. The initial search for Flight 447 found 50 bodies and hundreds of pieces of the plane, including its torn-off tail. But the latest search, a $13 million third effort, ended in May and did not find the "black box" voice and data recorders at the crash site, where the ocean is as deep as 13,120 feet. The fourth search will begin in February. More»

Ethiopian Jet's Black Box Recovered

Plane had crashed outside Beirut in Jan. 25 thunderstorm

(AP) - Lebanon's marine commandos today recovered the black box of the Ethiopian Airlines jet that crashed into the Mediterranean last month, a Lebanese army officer said. The Boeing 737 crashed Jan. 25 minutes after takeoff from Beirut during a fierce thunderstorm. All 90 people on board died. The officer said the black box was "carefully" pulled out and taken to a Lebanese naval base in Beirut. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Plane Plummeted 20 Times Faster Than Normal

Flight recorders found; cause of crash still unknown

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

black box • Newark • plane crash • Continental • flight recorder • Buffalo • icing • Flight 3407

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Air France Pilots Didn't Know What Was Happening

Neither co-pilot had been trained for sensor malfunctions, new report says

Recordings Recovered From Crashed Air France Jet

Investigation among most complex and expensive in history

Air France Recorder Pulled From Atlantic

Investigators hope for clues in 2009 plane crash

France to Hunt Again for Vanished Rio-Paris Flight

Fourth search for Flight 447's black boxes to begin in February

Ethiopian Jet's Black Box Recovered

Plane had crashed outside Beirut in Jan. 25 thunderstorm

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Plane Plummeted 20 Times Faster Than Normal

Flight recorders found; cause of crash still unknown

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

black box • Newark • plane crash • Continental • flight recorder • Buffalo • icing • Flight 3407

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Air France Pilots Didn't Know What Was Happening

Neither co-pilot had been trained for sensor malfunctions, new report says

Recordings Recovered From Crashed Air France Jet

Investigation among most complex and expensive in history

Air France Recorder Pulled From Atlantic

Investigators hope for clues in 2009 plane crash

France to Hunt Again for Vanished Rio-Paris Flight

Fourth search for Flight 447's black boxes to begin in February

Ethiopian Jet's Black Box Recovered

Plane had crashed outside Beirut in Jan. 25 thunderstorm

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?