Evidence in Commuter Plane Crash Points to Ice Buildup on Wings

Workers Begin Removing Cictims' Remains

By Scott Fallon
The Record (Hackensack N.J.)

HACKENSACK, N.J. (MCT) - Federal investigators will spend the weekend trying to determine whether a heavy accumulation of ice caused a commuter plane from Newark, N.J., to crash in suburban Buffalo, N.Y., killing 50 people, including at least 11 from New Jersey.

The pilots of Continental Connection Flight 3407 discussed "significant ice buildup" on the wings and windshield shortly before the twin turboprop nose-dived into a house Thursday night, federal officials said. The airplane went through a "severe pitch and roll" after positioning its flaps for a landing, said Steve Chealander, a spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board.

It was the nation's first deadly crash of a commercial airliner in more than two years and came just weeks after a celebrated emergency landing on the Hudson River saved the lives of all 155 aboard.

On Friday night, workers began removing the victims' remains from the crash scene in Clarence, N.Y., after firefighters battled flames from the wreckage for most of the day.

One of the 49 passengers killed onboard was a woman whose husband died in the World Trade Center attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Among the New Jersey victims were four members of a Bloomfield family and two members of a popular jazz band.

President Obama voiced condolences Friday, saying: "Our hearts go out to the families and friends who lost loved ones."

Earlier in the day, investigators were able to recover black box recorders that could shed light on what went wrong.

No mayday call came from the pilot before the crash, according to a recording of air traffic control's radio messages captured by the Web site LiveATC.net. Neither the controller nor the pilot showed concern that anything was out of the ordinary as the airplane was asked to fly at 2,300 feet as it descended toward Buffalo-Niagara International Airport in New York.

Witnesses heard the plane sputtering before it plunged squarely through the roof of the house, its tail section visible through flames that shot at least 50 feet into the night sky. One person died in the house and two others escaped with minor injuries.

The near-vertical drop of the plane may have avoided more casualties on the ground.

"If it had landed horizontally, it could have taken out the whole neighborhood," said New York Gov. David Paterson.

After the crash, several pilots were heard on air traffic control messages saying they had been picking up ice on their wings. "We've been getting ice since 20 miles south of the airport," one said.

Another said his plane had picked up rime ice _ a rough type of ice that prevents air from moving smoothly, puts considerable drag on the plane and prevents the wings from lifting. Planes can stall even at high speeds or pitch and roll uncontrollably as Flight 3407 did, aviation experts said.

In 1994, an American Eagle commuter plane crashed in Roselawn, Ind., killing all 68 people aboard. Investigators said an ice buildup on the wings caused the aircraft to suddenly roll out of control.

The 74-seat Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 aircraft in Thursday's disaster was operated by Manassas, Va.-based Colgan Air. The plane was built last year by Canadian aircraft manufacturer de Havilland.

It was the first fatal crash of a commercial airliner in the United States since Aug. 27, 2006, when 49 people were killed after a Comair jetliner mistakenly took off from a Lexington, Ky., runway that was too short.

About 30 relatives and others who arrived at the Buffalo airport overnight were escorted into a private area and taken by bus to a senior citizens center in the neighboring town of Cheektowaga, where counselors and representatives from Continental waited to help.

Among the New Jersey victims are:

_Donald and Dawn Mossop and their son Shawn, 12, along with Dawn Mossop's sister, Ferris Reid. All lived in Bloomfield and were members of a Jehovah's Witnesses church in Montclair, according to two church elders.

_Jazz guitarist Coleman Mellett, 34, of East Brunswick, and saxophonist Gerry Niewood, 65, of Glen Ridge. Both were members of the Chuck Mangione Band and slated to perform at a concert in Buffalo.

_Maddy Loftus, 25, a graduate of Parsippany Hills High School. She was heading to a weekend reunion at Buffalo State University of the college's women hockey players.

_Matilda Quintero of Iselin, a flight attendant for Colgan Air.

_Ronald Gonzalez, the director of the youth services program based in the New Brunswick school district, where he served as a liaison between families and social service agencies.

_Lorin Maurer, who worked at Princeton University for the Office of Development, the school's fund-raising arm.

_Jean Srnecz of Clinton, a senior vice president of merchandising at Baker and Taylor Inc., a wholesale book distributor.

New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine issued a statement, saying: "The thoughts and prayers of all New Jerseyans are with the families and loved ones of those aboard Flight 3407, and I would like to express my deepest sympathies to them for their loss."

Beverly Eckert, an outspoken 9/11 widow, was also among those killed. She was heading to Buffalo for a celebration of what would have been her husband's 58th birthday. Last week, Eckert met with Obama along with other relatives of those killed in the 2001 attacks to discuss how the new administration would handle terrorism suspects.

Continental officials said relatives and friends of those on Flight 3407 who want to give or receive information about those onboard can call a special family assistance number, (800) 621-3263.

News of the crash made some travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport more wary.

Gunther Krausse, who flew from Buffalo to Newark on Friday morning, said his flight was packed with anxious passengers. "I think the people are really nervous because there's all this ice on the plane," said Krausse.

James Bahleda, who also flew from Buffalo to Newark on Friday with his wife, said he was not worried about the safety of his aircraft this morning but he noticed a pall hanging over the airport.

"It was just a little eerie at the airport this morning about it," said Bahleda, 66. "But nobody was talking about the crash."

"It's like the elephant in the room," he said.

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© 2009, North Jersey Media Group Inc.
Visit The Record Online at http://www.northjersey.com/
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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GRAPHICS (from MCT Graphics, 202-383-6064): PLANECRASH ICE, BUFFALO CRASH

Congress Sends $787 Billion Stimulus to Obama's Desk

By David Lightman
McClatchy Newspapers
(MCT)

WASHINGTON _ Congress, voting largely along party lines, Friday voted to jolt the nation's struggling economy with a $787.2 billion stimulus package designed to provide quick tax relief and create or save 3.5 million jobs.

The Senate approved the package by a 60-38 vote, as 55 Democrats joined three moderate Republicans and two independents. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., did not vote, and one of Minnesota's seats remains vacant. The final, deciding vote was cast by Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who had returned to Washington late Friday after his mother's funeral.

Earlier in the day, the House passed the plan, 246-183. Among those voting, all 176 Republicans and seven Democrats voted no.

The bill now goes to President Barack Obama, who is expected to sign it early next week.

Once he does, some of the money should start flowing quickly. The bill promises some relatively quick job creation by spending $27.5 billion to modernize roads and bridges, $16.4 billion for investments in high-speed rail and transit, and $53.6 billion to help states pay education expenses.

It also includes up to 33 weeks of additional jobless benefits in high unemployment states, as well an extra $25 a week in benefits; funds to help the poor and those with disabilities with health care costs; and payments of $250 to retirees, Supplemental Security Income recipients and veterans who get pensions or disability payments.

GOP critics were bitter, charging that the bill was dotted with favors to special interests that had no business in emergency legislation, and that it offered too few tax cuts.

They ridiculed one of the biggest provisions, Obama's signature "Making Work Pay" tax relief, which provides $400 to most taxpayers. The credit, estimated to cost $116.2 billion, should mean only $13 a week this year, assuming the plan begins in June, and $8 a week next year.

"Thirteen bucks a week isn't going to do a whole lot to get this economy going again," said House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence of Indiana.

Republicans also objected that congressional negotiators worked largely behind closed doors to cobble the bill together quickly this week, despite Obama's promises of transparency. And when copies of the 1,073 page, eight-inch thick bill became available only a few hours before the votes, it had changes scribbled in ink in the margins.

The mood among supporters was a combination of relief, euphoria _ and confusion in the final hours.

The bill was pieced together only after some messy last-minute scrambling, as lawmakers pleaded Thursday to get more pet projects shoehorned into the measure. A provision was added that could give General Motors _ already getting a $13.4 billion federal bailout _ a $3.2 billion break that could lower future taxes.

Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, Republicans whose votes were crucial to final Senate passage, sought and got an expanded tax break for small business.

Even the bill's Democratic defenders warned that the legislation wouldn't spark an instant economic turnaround. The nation has lost 3.6 million jobs since the recession began in December 2007, and the bill's supporters predict that the stimulus would allow the economy to recover almost an equal number of jobs, but not rapidly _ nor would they be the same jobs.

Its backers said the bill would ease the recession's impact and perhaps allow the economy to revive sooner.

"The American people understand that the legislation we send to the president's desk will not solve this crisis overnight," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. "We cannot say for certain when this crisis will end, but we do know for certain that this is when recovery must begin."

The bill aims to provide stimulus in four general ways: Tax relief, investments in the future, immediate job creation and help for people struggling.

One of the biggest tax expenses is the $70 billion "patch" in the alternative minimum tax, so that about 26 million people won't be subject to the tax this year. House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., disputed the impact of this provision, noting that it simply extends current policies rather than puts new money into anyone's pockets.

The Tax Policy Center, a joint project of the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, two respected center-left policy research organizations, agrees.

The other major break is the $400 "Making Work Pay" credit, which will phase out at $95,000 for single taxpayers and $190,000 for joint filers.

Other tax cuts are more targeted to boost specific industries or groups. The first $2,400 of jobless benefits this year won't be counted as taxable income. Most new car buyers can deduct state and local sales taxes on the purchase. First-time home buyers who purchase a home until Dec. 1 can get up to an $8,000 tax credit.

Short-term job creation is expected from the education and infrastructure spending. The $53.6 billion State Fiscal Stabilization Fund includes $40 billion for local school districts, which could use it for school modernization, teacher pay and other expenses.

Infrastructure spending includes $27.5 billion for rebuilding roads and bridges _ half of which must be committed to projects within 120 days _ and $19 billion for clean water and flood control projects.

The investments for the future are seen as ways of assuring that jobs will be created in later years. Some $30 billion would be spent on developing a new, more efficient power grid, advanced battery technology and other energy efficiency measures. And the bill provides $20 billion in tax incentives for renewable energy over the next 10 years.

In addition, the measure contains more than $15 billion for scientific research. More than half would go to the National Institutes of Health for biomedical research to study Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer and heart disease.
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© 2009, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
Visit the McClatchy Washington Bureau on the World Wide Web at www.mcclatchydc.com.
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GRAPHICS (from MCT Graphics, 202-383-6064): STIMULUS

Video from Site of Buffalo Plane Crash

Bulletin: Continental Flight 3407 Crashes in Buffalo

Continental Flight 3407, departed from Newark Airport in New Jersey, crashed around midnight Friday in Buffalo. All 48 people on board and one person on the ground died when the aircraft crashed into a home in a Buffalo suburb.

Home Burglars Arrested

Suffolk County Police have arrested two men who burglarized homes in Hauppauge, Ronkonkoma and Dix Hills last month.

On February 11 at approximately 11:00 a.m., Fourth Squad detectives, assisted by police officers from the Fourth Precinct, pulled over the driver of a suspicious vehicle that was driving around Hauppauge. An investigation revealed that the occupants of the vehicle, Robert Salerno and Keith Savoy, were involved in various residential burglaries that occurred in Hauppauge, Ronkonkoma and Dix Hills.

Salerno, 39, of 33 Warner Lane, Lake Ronkonkoma, was charged with three counts of Burglary 2nd Degree, one count of Possession of Stolen Property 4th Degree, Possession of Burglar’s Tools, two counts of Criminal Mischief 4th Degree and two counts of Petit Larceny.

Savoy, 31, of 351 Woodlawn Ave., Ronkonkoma, was charged with two counts of Burglary 2nd Degree, one count of Possession of Stolen Property 4th Degree, Possession of Burglar’s Tools, two counts of Criminal Mischief 4th Degree, two counts of Petit Larceny and Possession of a Hypodermic Instrument.

The Fourth Squad detectives are continuing their investigation to determine if Salerno and Savoy are involved in any other burglaries. Salerno and Savoy are scheduled to be arraigned today, February 12, at First District Court in Central Islip.

Big Winners: Plant & Krauss, Lil Wayne, Jennifer Hudson, Coldplay

By Jim Abbott
The Orlando Sentinel

(MCT) With the 51st annual Grammy Awards in the books, it's time for the show's producers to start looking for more superstar duets for next year.

Here's a quick look at 3 ½ hours of music:

_The big winners

In a Grammy surprise, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant won five awards _ the night's biggest take _ for their genre-bending "Raising Sand," a haul that included best album and best record for "Please Read the Letter."

Jennifer Hudson, fresh from her Super Bowl triumph, provided one of the evening's most emotional moments with her early win for best R&B album. She held back tears as she thanked God and "my family in heaven, and those who are here today." That award was presented by a loopy-looking Whitney Houston.

For its seven nominations, Coldplay won for best rock album for "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends," best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals, and best song for "Viva la Vida."

Lil Wayne, up for a leading eight nominations, took best rap album for "Tha Carter III" and awards for rap solo performance, rap performance by a duo or group, and rap song for "Lollipop." His performance with Robin Thicke, Allan Toussaint, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and trumpeter Terence Blanchard was a show-stopper.

British singer Adele was honored as best new artist, sneaking quietly past Jonas Brothers in that category.

_The duets that (mostly) didn't work

Plenty of A-list pairings, again demonstrating that these ideas often are better on paper than in reality. Miley Cyrus joined Taylor Swift for her "Fifteen" _ sadly these two young stars together don't have enough charisma to light a 30-watt bulb. Stevie Wonder teamed with Jonas Brothers for a medley that added Super Bowl excess to Jonas' hit "Burning Up" and Wonder's "Superstition."

And what was that psychedelic-flashback-gone-bad production with Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl"? Could anyone see the fan-submitted videos for that "Grammy Moment" gimmick?

Better: The Rev. Al Green's "Let's Stay Together," which still soared even with unnecessary help from Justin Timberlake, Boyz II Men and Keith Urban.

For spirit, at least, Paul McCartney's "I Saw Her Standing There" was bolstered by Foo Fighter Dave Grohl's manic drum pounding. Sir Paul looked better than the aging Plant.

_Other performances

U2's "Get On Your Boots" opened the show with the lead single from the band's upcoming album. The mondo video offered Bono a chance to do the dramatic silhouette thing, and disguised the fact that he's really showing his age. And that Carrie Underwood song was noisy, wasn't it? Is that country music now?

_The no-shows

Chris Brown and Rihanna, two nominees scheduled to perform on the show, were absent instead. Before the show, the Los Angeles Police Department announced that Brown was the subject of a felony domestic-violence investigation. During the show, it was reported, Brown was being questioned by detectives about the incident. He and Rihanna have been romantically linked, although she apparently was not involved in the incident.

The no-shows were a headache for producers, who were left to put Dwayne Johnson (formerly The Rock) in the awkward position of doing jokes to fill time early in the show.
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© 2009, The Orlando Sentinel (Fla.).
Visit the Sentinel on the World Wide Web at http://www.orlandosentinel.com/.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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