Forty-nine passengers and crewmembers and one person on the ground were killed when a plane crashed into a home in Clarence Center, N.Y., a suburb of Buffalo, late Thursday night. Continental Flight 3407 crashed into a home on Long Road at approximately 10:20 p.m., only approximately five miles away from its final destination at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Six University at Buffalo affiliates were among he victims.
??? Flames engulfed the house shortly thereafter, resulting in serious structural damage. The fire burned throughout the night and into the weekend, making recovery and investigation efforts futile.
???At a press conference on Sunday at the Buffalo Marriott Hotel on Millersport Highway, representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the primary analysis of the black box recorders on the plane revealed that ice build up may have contributed to the crash, and that the plane had also been operating on autopilot since 11 minutes after departure from Newark, N.J., though the plane was being flown manually at the time of impact.
???Steven Chealander, spokesman for the NTSB, said that victims were still being recovered from the crash site as of Sunday.
???"It's a sore and open wound," Chealander told the press, asking them for sensitivity while reporting.
???Among the dead is Beverly Eckert, a Sept. 11, 2001 widow who was traveling to Buffalo to celebrate what would have been her husband's 58th birthday.
???Alison Des Forges, who served as an adjunct history professor during the 1990s and was a well-known human rights activist was also on board, according to a press release. Des Forge was the wife of Roger Des Forge, a UB history professor. She received an honorary doctorate during the 2001 commencement ceremony.
???Ellyse Kausner, the niece of Ellen Kausner, events coordinator with the University at Buffalo Law School, was also killed in the crash.
???Two UB alumni were also on board; Gerard Niewood of the class of 1965 was killed in the crash, as well as Susan Wehle, a 2002 and 1974 graduate. Niewood was a musician with the Chuck Mangione Band, traveling to Buffalo for a performance at Kleinhans Music Hall. Wehle was a cantor at Temple Beth Am in Amherst.
???In a statement released by Temple Beth Am, Rabbi Irwin A. Tanenbaum expressed sympathy for the families of the crash victims and expressed kind sentiments about Wehle.
???"... Remember and be grateful for all that our friend and my colleague has given to us," Tanenbaum said. "The community's Shabbat joy can't possibly be as complete without her presence, but we will forever hear in our inner ears her glad songs of joyous praise and her celebration and humanity, driving together to bring peace to our world."
???Also among the deceased is David Borner, a former Faculty Student Association employee and a former manager of Putnam's.
???Douglas C. Wielinski, a class of 1969 graduate, was also killed when the aircraft struck his home; his wife Karen Wielinski and his daughter Jill Wielinski survive him.
???New details were revealed Sunday concerning the circumstances surrounding the crash, though Chealander said no definite cause had yet been determined.
???"It's normal to be on autopilot, even when flying into high intensity weather situations," he said. "To say that [the plane] shouldn't have been flying on autopilot is not correct."
???The role severe weather played in the crash remains unclear. According to Chealander, there have been no reports suggesting that severe icing contributed to the incident, though the crew did mention "significant" icing in the black box recordings.
???Chealander said that in the moments prior to the crash, the plane dropped from 1,800 feet above sea level to 1,000 feet above sea level in approximately five seconds. He also stated that based on initial inspection, the aircraft did not seem to have lost any of its parts prior to impact.
???"We have found all six [propeller] blades of engine two, and four of six parts of engine one," Chealander said. "Though consumed in flames, the airplane doesn't appear to have lost anything prior to impact. It came down intact."
???University police and other members of the UB community were also involved in the response to the event. According to Continental Airlines spokeswoman Kelly Cripe, the airline is working with Colgan Air, Inc., to assist the families of passengers and crewmembers killed in the crash.
???"We set up a family assistance program and we're working with Colgan [Air, Inc.] in their efforts to coordinate the needs of the families," Cripe said.
???Following Thursday's crash, the Town of Clarence remains in a limited State of Emergency, according to a statement released by the Clarence Town Board.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
