Northeast Flight 801 originated at Boston for LaGuardia Field. It departed Boston at 07:45. The flight proceeded uneventfully at its assigned altitude of 6,000 feet MSL in instrument weather with almost continuous rain. At approximately 08:45, the flight contacted LaGuardia approach control. Ten minutes later it was cleared to leave New Rochelle, inbound, and shortly was instructed to make a 360-degree turn to assure separation from a preceding aircraft. The flight acknowledged and complied. At 08:58 it reported leaving New Rochelle and was cleared for an approach to runway 22, and at 08:59, was told that Ground Control Approach advisories were available. The flight acknowledged, and then was given the 09:00 LaGuardia weather, ceiling 1,700 feet and visibility 1 1/2 miles. Flight 801 reported leaving the LaGuardia range at 09:00 and was cleared to land on runway 22. There was no further message from the flight. At 09:03 it struck the glassy surfaced water of Flushing Bay some 3,600 feet from the approach end of runway 22. Passengers and crew, who had climbed out through the emergency exits and who were standing on and holding to the fast sinking aircraft, were taken aboard a motorboat and then transferred to a tugboat that arrived shortly. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The failure of the captain in command to monitor the co-pilots approach and take corrective action when the aircraft first went appreciably below a normal approach path.”