'It was a sudden catastrophic event that took place and then 30 seconds later it impacted,' an NTSB investigator says. Recovery efforts are slowed as water that doused the wreckage turns to ice. Reporting from Clarence Center, N.Y. -- Ice and cold temperatures hampered recovery and investigation efforts today of the Continental Airlines turboprop plane that crashed Thursday night, as nearly 150 emergency workers and volunteers combed the crash scene while local residents handed out pizza and drinks.