From the pics I'd say the Nosegear saved the lives of the flightcrew, if not most of first cabin. On the other hand, it killed the Turkish crew. The Continental 737 at Denver saved some lives as well.
Haven't seen anything about the crew being MD80 typed for the better part of their career, versus Guppy. The accident a/c was delivered in 2001, to United? UAL is off all guppies, one assumes this one was purchased by AMR?
Two very different types, needless to say, transition and experience issues?
bearfoil