The crew of the Continental Airlines flight which crashed into a house in New York state, killing 50 people, noticed a significant build-up of ice on the plane's wings, investigators claim.

All 49 people aboard Flight 3407 - passengers and crew – were killed, as well as one person on the ground when the plane crashed into the property in Buffalo on Thursday.

Air crash investigators are continuing to look into the cause of the accident but National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Steve Chealander told reporters analysis of the black-box recorders recovered from the plane showed the crew had been concerned over the weather conditions.

Mr Chealander said they discussed the "significant ice build-up" on the plane's windshield and its wings.

He added the aircraft experienced a series of pitches and rolls shortly after lowering its landing gear and moving the wing flaps.

A few moments later, after trying to raise the landing gear and re-set the flaps, the plane lost radio contact.

Two occupants of the house destroyed by the plane, a woman and her daughter, have been released from hospital after treatment for only minor injuries.

Among those killed in the accident was the widow of a man killed in the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Beverley Eckert, a co-chairwoman of the Voices of September 11th support group, was believed to have been flying to Buffalo for a celebration of her late husband's birthday.


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