 Despite this , possibly due to their concerns with passenger comfort ( the VOR 1 approach would have required performing the " circle to land " maneuver at a relatively low altitude over the airport to land on runway 19 ) , or possibly by simply being late to set up for the recommended VOR 1 approach ( the flight time was only about 8 minutes from takeoff at Albany to the Glens Falls area , with a significant tailwind component of approximately 50 knots ) , the crew did not execute the VOR 1 approach . Instead , the crew appeared to select an improvised and unauthorized modified version of the VOR / DME 19 approach , which included flying outbound followed by a course reversal at about 10 nautical miles ( 20 km ) north of the airport , over Lake George . As the crew performed what appeared to be an unpublished and unauthorized procedure turn for course reversal on the VOR / DME 19 approach path , they descended prematurely and hit the side of a mountain . It was subsequently determined that a 60 @-@ knot ( 110 km / h ) southerly wind created a downdraft effect which , coupled with the aircraft 's low altitude over the terrain , contributed to the crash . 
