Pilots "Did Not Take Action" That Could Have Prevented The Accident

The NTSB has determined that the crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407, a Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 owned by Colgan Air, was the fault of the pilots not taking appropriate corrective action when the accident sequence began. The board held a final meeting on the crash Tuesday in Washington, DC.

Investigators said Captain Martin Renslow pulled back on the aircraft's control yoke rather than pushing forward, which led to a deeper stall that recovering from it. It also found that First Officer Rebecca Shaw did not follow cockpit procedures, such as calling out the stall or pushing forceabley on the controls, which investigators said she had time to do.

In fact, the board found that both pilots had time to take corrective action that would have prevented the crash. The board staff indicated 27 seconds elapsed between the first warning from the stick shaker to the time the flight data recorder record ended.

CNN reports that the board said there was an almost casual tone between the two pilots in the cockpit. Board member Robert Sumwalt said "It was as if the flight was just a means for the captain to conduct a conversation with this young first officer."  Another investigator,  Dr. Evan Byrne said "The crew did not perform in a way consistent with the training they received."

But while the board is focused on the pilots, it is also looking at a wide variety of other factors that may have contributed to the crash, including training, sleep patterns, and commuting time. Renslow lived in Florida, while Shaw traveled to work from the west coast. While there was known icing in the area at the time of the accident, the board said ice was not a factor.

Colgan Air had previously submitted a 67-page document that placed the blame directly on the two pilots of the aircraft. The board is expected to release a probable cause report quickly.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov