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Plane Plummeted 20 Times Faster Than Normal
Flight recorders found; cause of crash still unknown
By Sarah Quinn
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Posted Feb 16, 09 9:30 AM CST
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(Newser)
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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.