UPS A300-600F crashes on approach to Birmingham [BHM]

Detroit Free Press: Two dead in fiery UPS plane crash in Alabama (Aug 14 2013)

A UPS cargo plane slammed into a field and burst into flames near an Alabama airport Wednesday, killing the pilot and co-pilot and strewing debris for hundreds of yards, authorities said. The plane, an Airbus A300-600F, was en route from Louisville when it crashed on approach to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.​

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Sumwalt said the plane, carrying tail number N155UP, crashed while on approach to Runway 18.​

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Birmingham Mayor William Bell told USA TODAY that the pilots sent no distress signal before the crash. No one on the ground was injured, he said, although debris was found on roofs and lawns of homes a half-mile from the crash site.​

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"Debris is everywhere,'' Bell said. "It took tremendous effort by the men and women of the police and fire departments to put the fire out and take control of the scene."​

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The crash happened at about 5 a.m. local time on an overcast morning with occasional light rain. The plane apparently struck a massive tree north of the runway and clipped some power lines, knocking out power to much of the surrounding neighborhood.​

 

Haven't seen a lot of news on this accident but from what I have read this was another case of a perfectly good airplane flying into the ground.

Anyone hear anything else?

 

That's all I've heard. FAA said all controls appeared to be functioning, positions of control surfaces at impact matched the cockpit controls, etc.

In the best traditions of Buddy Holly, "controlled flight into terrain"?

 

Have to wonder what the (expletive deleted) was going on in the cockpit. I have first hand experience in a breakdown of cockpit discipline only avoiding flying into the water by seconds. We thought the the tail of the plane made contact, that close. I know it happens but usually more than one thing goes wrong.

 

Maybe we could sponsor an annual Buddy Holly Memorial Charter Pilot award for the year's best controlled flight into terrain?