What happened
The aircraft departed from Runway 13 at La Guardia Airport in Flushing, New York. Immediately following takeoff, the aircraft struck a seawall dike. Despite this incident, the flight continued to its destination in Denver, Colorado, where an uneventful landing was completed. A post-flight inspection revealed minor damage to the tailskid and the number 2 engine thrust reverser.
The investigation
An investigation into the event disclosed that snow removal from the runway was incomplete and inadequate. Additionally, there was a lack of visual cues available due to poor weather conditions during the departure phase.