Folks, sorry to imply that the aircraft touched down on the mains first as any text-book landing, this was not my intention. Rubik inferred that the aircraft did not touch down at something close(ish) to the normal attitude - and that it was more controlable than it was.
This is just a review of accidents involving B737s over a few years. They all indicate that survivability rates even from a severa and catastrophic impact are greatly enhanced if the aircraft remains upright, regardless of how quickly the fire services arrive.
Yes, the wing and pod dug in and this contributed to the break-up of the airframe in combination with the excess speed and sink-rate. However, the aircraft DID land upright, or as near to upright as possible ,and the idea that they could have achieve a more gentle touch down in a field boggles the mind.
Dennis Fitch, who was controling the throttles for the most part stated that in the last couple of hundred feet, he realised that the sink rate was to great and firewalled the throttles. Just prior to touch down, Capt. Hayes told Capt. Fitch to close the throttles however Finch stated that he couldn't as that was all that was holding the wing up.
http://www.airborneaircrafts.com/lib..._United232.htm
Agree with you both
new_nigel777 and
xetroV
LP