[1]: 2 While on descent into Hartford, the pilots received a weather update at 00:30 that included a warning of wind shear and severe thunderstorms at Bradley.

For reasons unknown, the first officer entered 29.47 inHg (998 hPa) on the altimeter causing it to read approximately 70 feet (21 m) high.

[1]: 5 At 00:49, while Flight 1572 was beginning its final approach, the crew was advised that the control tower was closing temporarily due to severe weather buckling a window inside the cab.

[1]: 14 At 00:55, the sink rate alarm went off, followed seconds later by a loud thump as the aircraft began shearing off treetops along Peak Mountain ridge.

It cited pilot error as the primary cause due to an incorrect altimeter setting combined with the crew's failure to level off at the MDA.

[1]: 63  Although turbulence, heavy rain, and wind shear affected the aircraft, the crew continued to allow it to descend while searching for the airport.

However, the NTSB also credited the crew resource management and flight skills of the pilots with minimizing the severity of the accident once it was unfolding.

[citation needed] After the accident, N566AA was repaired and returned to service and continued to fly with American Airlines until being retired and stored in August 2017.

[citation needed] The incident was featured on season 22 of the Canadian documentary series Mayday, in the episode titled "Tree Strike Terror".