Synopsis
The book AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS: DRAMA IN SIOUX CITY The Crash of United Airlines Flight 232 by Igor Korovin provides a detailed examination of one of the most dramatic aviation incidents in U.S. history, the crash of United Airlines Flight 232 on July 19, 1989. The narrative centers on the catastrophic failure of a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10, registered as N1819U, which was en route from Denver, Colorado, to Chicago, Illinois, with a planned continuation to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During cruise flight over Iowa, the aircraft suffered a sudden and catastrophic failure of its No. 2 tail-mounted engine. A manufacturing defect in the engine’s fan disk, which went undetected, caused the disk to disintegrate, sending debris through the tail section and severing all three of the aircraft’s hydraulic lines. This unprecedented loss of all hydraulic systems rendered the plane’s primary flight controls—ailerons, elevators, and rudders—inoperable, leaving the crew with only engine thrust to steer and control the aircraft’s altitude. Korovin’s account meticulously reconstructs the sequence of events, drawing from official reports, survivor testimonies, and other primary sources to capture the intensity and complexity of the crisis that unfolded at 37,000 feet.
Korovin delves into the extraordinary efforts of the flight crew, led by Captain Alfred C. Haynes, a seasoned pilot with 33 years of experience at United Airlines. Alongside First Officer William Records, Flight Engineer Dudley Dvorak, and a check pilot, Dennis Fitch, who was a passenger but joined the cockpit to assist, the crew faced an almost impossible task. With no flight controls, they resorted to differential thrust—manipulating the power of the two remaining wing-mounted engines to steer and adjust the aircraft’s descent. This improvisation required precise coordination and split-second decision-making, as the plane oscillated in a series of uncontrolled climbs and descents, a phenomenon known as phugoid cycles. The book highlights the crew’s reliance on Crew Resource Management (CRM), a then-emerging philosophy that emphasized teamwork and communication in the cockpit. United Airlines had implemented CRM training in the early 1980s, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) later credited this training as a critical factor in the crew’s ability to manage the emergency. Korovin explores how the crew’s collaborative approach, including Captain Haynes’ decision to involve Fitch and listen to input from all members, exemplified CRM principles and contributed to the survival of 184 of the 296 people on board.
The narrative also vividly describes the harrowing final moments of Flight 232 as the crew attempted an emergency landing at Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City, Iowa. Without hydraulic controls, the aircraft could not deploy flaps or slats to slow its speed, forcing the crew to approach the runway at nearly twice the normal landing speed and with an excessive rate of descent. Korovin recounts how, despite their efforts to align the aircraft with the runway, the plane’s right wing dipped just before touchdown, causing it to cartwheel, break apart, and erupt into flames. The wreckage scattered across the runway and into an adjacent cornfield, leaving a trail of destruction over a mile long. Of the 296 passengers and crew, 112 perished, including 111 on board and one survivor who succumbed to injuries later. Yet, the book underscores the remarkable fact that 184 people survived, a testament to the crew’s skill, the relatively controlled crash, and the swift response of emergency services. Korovin notes the fortunate timing of the crash during daylight hours, the presence of the Iowa Air National Guard at the airport, and a shift change at local trauma and burn centers, which ensured ample medical personnel were available to treat the injured.
Beyond the technical and human aspects of the crash, Korovin’s book examines the aftermath and broader implications of the incident. The NTSB investigation revealed that the root cause was a fatigue crack in the titanium fan disk, which originated from a manufacturing flaw that went undetected due to inadequate inspection processes by United Airlines’ maintenance personnel. The investigation praised the flight crew’s heroic actions but criticized United’s maintenance oversight, leading to significant changes in airline maintenance protocols and the mandatory adoption of CRM training across the industry, as mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Korovin also touches on the cultural impact of the crash, noting its depiction in documentaries, television programs, and survivor accounts, such as Jerry Schemmel’s book Chosen to Live and Joe Trombello’s Miracle in a Cornfield. The book reflects on the community response in Sioux City, where a memorial now stands along the Missouri River to honor the flight crew’s heroism and the rescue efforts. While the synopsis provided in most sources is brief, Korovin’s work is implied to offer a comprehensive, investigative narrative, likely incorporating technical details, human stories, and analysis of the systemic failures that led to the tragedy, making it a compelling study of both a disaster and a remarkable feat of survival.