A plane crashed into a house yesterday, killing all 50 people, less than a mile from my sister's house in Clarence NY. Intense heat is preventing a full-scale investigation at the site of a house where an aircraft crashed in New York state on Thursday, killing 50 people.
The National Transportation Safety Board's Steve Chealander said there had been a big fire, fed by a gas leak.
But investigators were permitted to foray into the site, where they retrieved flight recorders it is hoped will yield clues about the crash cause.
Continental Connection flight 3407 crashed at 2210 local time (0310 GMT).
The death toll is thought to comprise 44 passengers, four crew and one off-duty crew member on board, and one person on the ground.
Direct hit
TV footage showed a house engulfed in flames and the tail of the plane sticking out of the ground.
Erie County Executive Chris Collins said there were three people in the house that was hit.
One died and the other two - believed to be a woman and child - managed to escape with apparently minor injuries, he said.
Hours later, the BBC's Laura Trevelyan in New York says the flames are still raging and it looks like it will be several hours before the full investigation can begin.
But investigators have located the plane's two "black boxes" - cockpit and flight data recorders - which will be sent immediately to Washington for analysis.
President Barack Obama said he and his wife Michelle were "deeply saddened" by the news.
"Our hearts go out to the families and friends of loved ones," he said, thanking the "brave first responders" who tried to save lives and make the area safe.
The twin-prop Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft, operated by Colgan Air for Continental Airlines, was flying from Newark airport in New Jersey to Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
It was snowing at the time, and other pilots had reported ice forming on the wings of their planes.
The pilot did not tell air traffic controllers of any problems during the flight, and a recording of communications appears normal until shortly before the crash.
'Dropped off radar'
However, a minute later, the controller was unable to contact flight 3407 and asked other planes in the area if they could spot it.
One airport official said he had been told "the plane simply dropped off the radar screen".
Eyewitnesses spoke of hearing unusual sounds coming from the plane before it crashed.
"It sounded quite loud, and then the sound stopped," David Luce, who lives 150 yards (150m) from the crash site, told the Buffalo News.
"Then one or two seconds later, there was a thunderous explosion. I thought something hit our house. It shook our whole house."
Neighbours describe the scene of the crash
He described going to the scene of the crash and seeing flames up to 50ft (15m) high.
"The house was already flattened. There was no house, just a pile of rubbish and still burning," he said.
Dave Bissonette, emergency control director in Clarence, said it was "remarkable" that only one house was hit, with neighbouring houses relatively unscathed.
"As devastating as that was, it could have easily wiped out that entire neighbourhood," he said.
9/11 widow
Relatives of the victims have been offered counselling and support as they wait for news.
One of those on board the plane was Beverly Eckert, widow of Sean Rooney who was killed in the 9/11 attacks on New York and who had become a leading campaigner on behalf of the "9/11 families".
 | BOMBARDIER DASH 8 AIRCRAFT The Canadian-made Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 was delivered new last year Q400 is newest member of the Dash 8 family Twin-engine turboprop, mainly for short-haul flights First flown in 1998, entered commercial service in 2000 |
Ms Eckert had been travelling home to mark what would have been her husband's 58th birthday.
"We know she was on that plane," her sister, Sue Bourque, told the Buffalo News, "and now she's with him."
President Obama paid tribute to Ms Eckert, calling her "an inspiration to me and so many others".
Chris Kausner, whose sister is believed to have been on the plane, was forced to break the news to his mother, holidaying in Florida.
"I heard my mother make a noise on the phone that I never heard her make before," he told reporters.
Continental Airlines expressed profound sadness over the crash and said it was working closely with Colgan Air to "provide as much support as possible for all concerned"
Playground in June 2008
January 2009
February 2009 
It sounded quite loud, and then the sound stopped. Then one or two seconds later, there was a thunderous explosion 
