Crash investigators looking into the loss of Colgan Air flight 3407 on Thursday 12 February have revealed the aircraft may have entered a stall prior to the accident.
NTSB spokesman Steven Chealander told a press conference that both the in-cockpit stall protection systems on the Dash-8 Q400 - N200WQ - the stick-shaker and stick pusher both "activated in this aircraft".
He added that investigators are now satisfied that the aircraft essentially landed flat and not in a nose-down condition as reported by eye-witnesses. Chealander said: "We have identified all four corners of the aircraft, their arrangement is consistent with a flat landing."
He also pointed out that the aircraft was pointing north east, in line with the runway, but not in the same direction as the runway. An apparent delay which caused the flights late departure to Buffalo from Newark airport was not caused by a mechanical issue, he added but by air traffic control advising about strong winds at that airport.
Colgan Air says it is continuing to work with the authorities to learn the cause of the accident. It says: "Colgan and Continental remain focused foremost on assisting the families of the passengers and crew members involved, and those affected on the ground. An assistance center has been established in Buffalo to provide support for families' needs."
Colgan has released a partial manifest with the names of some of those killed in the accident, that document can be found at: http://www.colganair.com/Colgan_11_Passenger_Manifest.pdf
Note: Low-Fare & Regional Airlines and LARAnews.net do not speculate on the cause of incidents or accidents. There are highly qualified investigators dedicated to finding the causes and we will publish their findings as and when they are released.
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