What caused Flight 3407 to crash? Revisiting the 2009 tragedy on its 16th anniversary

February 12, 2009, marked an important date in aviation history. The crash, which killed 49 people, involved a Bombardier DHC-8-400 that ran into a residential area in Clarence Center, New York. On the 16th anniversary of the incident, let’s reflect on all the factors that led to this tragedy.

Colgan Air Flight 3407 was a Continental Connection plane that flew from Buffalo, New York, to Newark, New Jersey.

Due to weather complications, the plane was delayed and was only able to land at Buffalo Niagara International Airport under Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC).

The aircraft was also greeted with a stalled warning and airdropped at a dangerously low speed and altitude.

The pilots’ efforts to regain control of the aircraft proved ineffective as it crashed around 5 miles from the airport.

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Colgan Air Flight crash causes

The National Transporation Safety Board, NTSB, concluded that pilot error was the primary cause of the aircraft crash.

More specifically, the captain’s lack of response to the diurnal stall took complete control of the aircraft as the crash sequence deteriorated.

Instead of taking standard recovery measures such as lowering the altitude and putting the throttle to maximum, the captain slammed the control column backward.

Also, there was a reported fatigue on both pilots during the crash. Fatigue has a very negative impact on cognitive ability and decision-making capacity, which most likely generates adverse responses to these extreme situations.

The NTSB reported that fatigue was a contributing factor but could not delineate its precise effect on performance.

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Environmental conditions

Light snow and fog were the dominant conditions at the time of the accident, offering difficult conditions for flying.

The aircraft's deicing system had been used immediately after takeoff. However, the windshield and wings were found to have excessive icing at the time of the accident.

Icing can cause a substantial loss of lift and gain in drag, further complicating an already hazardous situation for pilots.

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Poor training and procedures

The NTSB investigation identified a deficiency in the operating procedures and training program of Colgan Air, which was inadequate.

The pilot training was not sufficient enough to equip them for sudden stalls of Q400 aircraft.

There had also been sterile cockpit rule violations—a policy to reduce distractions during the critical phases of flight—resulting in further mismanagement of the descent.

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Regulatory reforms

Significant regulatory reforms were introduced to American aviation following this accident. Family members of the victims lobbied for reform that resulted in the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010.

The act imposed stricter controls on pilot training and fatigue management among regional airlines.

It acted as a catalyst to increase safety measures to avoid such accidents in the future.