What happened
On the night of February 12, 2009, a Bombardier DHC-8-400, registered as N200WQ, was performing an instrument approach toward Buffalo-Niagara International Airport. The aircraft, operating as Continental Connection flight 3407 for Colgan Air, Inc., deviated from its flight path and struck a residential building in Clarence Center, New York. The impact occurred approximately 5 nautical miles northeast of the destination airport.
At the time of the accident, the flight was operating under night visual meteorological conditions. The collision with the residence and the subsequent post-crash fire resulted in the destruction of the aircraft. The accident claimed the lives of all 49 people on board, including the two pilots and two flight attendants, as well as one individual on the ground.
Findings
No specific contributing factors or official conclusions were provided in the source material regarding the mechanical or operational reasons for the deviation from the approach path.