What happened
On the morning of the accident, a flight departing from Boston, Massachusetts, bound for LaGuardia Field was operating under Instrument Flight Rules. The aircraft, a Convair 240 (implied by context/type), departed at 07:45 with a gross weight of 38,233 pounds, which was within the permitted limits. During the flight, the crew utilized de-icing equipment as a preventative measure due to near-freezing temperatures and continuous rain, though no actual icing was reported.
As the aircraft approached New York, it transitioned through various altitudes under the direction of LaGuardia approach control. At approximately 08:45, the flight reported its position over New Canaan. The crew received instructions to descend through several altitude levels and performed a 360-degree turn to maintain separation from other traffic. Weather reports for the area indicated a ceiling of 1,700 feet and visibility of 1.5 miles.
At 09:00, the flight reported leaving the LaGuardia range and was cleared to land on Runway 22. Shortly thereafter, at 09:03, the aircraft impacted the water in Flushing Bay, roughly 3,600 feet from the runway approach end. The impact resulted in zero fatalities, as all passengers and crew members managed to exit through emergency exits and hold onto the sinking airframe until rescue boats arrived. All occupants were subsequently transported to a hospital.
Findings
Investigation into the crash revealed that the aircraft's mechanical systems and components were functioning correctly at the time of the accident. The weather conditions met the authorized minimums for the approach, which allowed for 500-foot ceilings and one mile of visibility. However, the crew continued the approach visually despite encountering instrument weather. The investigation concluded that the primary cause was the captain's failure to monitor the co-pilot's approach and implement necessary corrections when the aircraft descended below a standard approach path.