BREAKING: FAA: UPS jet crashes in Birmingham, Ala.

CBS 12 News ^ | August 14, 2013 | Michele Wright

[The Working Man]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A federal aviation official says a large UPS cargo plane has crashed near an airport in Birmingham, Ala.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen tells The Associated Press that the A300 plane crashed on approach to the airport before dawn Wednesday. [snip]

[Yosemitest]

The Tower is 1 and 1/2 to 1 and 3/4 miles away from the crash site based on the Fox News witness,
and if the Airbus 300 crashed 1/2 away from the airport, then it crashed in the clear-zone, before the under-run to Runway 24.
If my memory serves me correctly that would be real close to Interstate 59, exit 132 or 133.
It would have been unlikely that the Tower Controllers heard what the witnesses heard because of the distance from the crash and the insulated windows and the control tower's location.

,/a>

[machogirl]

Thanks for the analysis. :)

[MRadtke]

“The recent crash of the A300, caused by an explosion in a fuel tank...”

Center fuel tank, to be exact.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[Yosemitest]

[machogirl]

Wow, the plane clipped trees and missed this couple’s house by feet.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/08/ups_flight_1354_missed_birming.html

[Yosemitest]

I assume your source is TWA Flight 800 crash caused by overheated fuel tank vapors, not bomb or missile: officials ?

[machogirl]

Power lines might explain one boom.

[Yosemitest]

Thanks.
The location of "the intersection of Tarrant Huffman Road and Treadwell Road" is about 1 and 1/4 mile final to RWY 18,
so either the pilot was lining up on the 7,000 ft runway due to parking location
or was on a visual approach on a base-to-dogleg turn to final to RWY 24.
Very interesting, and revealing.

[machogirl]

welcome, thanks for the insight on that too

[Yosemitest]

Heres KBHM current NOTAMS.
Here's the download to the RNAV (GPS) RWY 18 approach plate.
Here's the download to the LOC RWY 18 approach plate.
Here's the Runway data.

Runway 18/36

Dimensions: 

7099 x 150 ft. / 2164 x 46 m

Surface: 

asphalt/grooved, in good condition

Weight bearing capacity: 

Single wheel:	75.0
Double wheel:	170.0
Double tandem:	240.0

Runway edge lights: 

medium intensity

Gradient: 

GRADIENT 0.15% DOWN S.

RUNWAY 18

RUNWAY 36

Latitude: 

33-34.392837N

33-33.222317N

Longitude: 

086-44.831402W

086-44.832030W

Elevation: 

644.3 ft.

633.4 ft.

Gradient: 

0.2% UP

0.2% DOWN

Traffic pattern: 

left

left

Runway heading: 

183 magnetic, 180 true

003 magnetic, 000 true

Markings: 

nonprecision, in good condition

nonprecision, in good condition

Visual slope indicator: 

4-light PAPI on left (3.20 degrees glide path)

Runway end identifier lights: 

yes

yes

Touchdown point: 

yes, no lights

yes, no lights

Instrument approach: 

LOC/DME

Obstructions: 

16 ft. gnd, 615 ft. from runway, 26:1 slope to clear

76 ft. trees, 1736 ft. from runway, 392 ft. left of centerline, 20:1 slope to clear





Runway 6/24

Dimensions: 

11998 x 150 ft. / 3657 x 46 m

Surface: 

asphalt/grooved, in good condition

Weight bearing capacity: 

Single wheel:	175.0
Double wheel:	205.0
Double tandem:	350.0

Runway edge lights: 

high intensity

Gradient: 

GRADIENT 0.46% DOWN SW.

RUNWAY 6

RUNWAY 24

Latitude: 

33-33.286797N

33-34.408047N

Longitude: 

086-46.294145W

086-44.347287W

Elevation: 

603.4 ft.

650.0 ft.

Gradient: 

0.2% UP

0.5% DOWN

Traffic pattern: 

left

left

Runway heading: 

058 magnetic, 055 true

238 magnetic, 235 true

Displaced threshold: 

no

1197 ft.

Markings: 

precision, in good condition

precision, in good condition

Visual slope indicator: 

4-light PAPI on left (3.00 degrees glide path)

4-light PAPI on left (3.00 degrees glide path)

RVR equipment: 

touchdown, midfield, rollout

touchdown, midfield, rollout

Approach lights: 

ALSF2: standard 2,400 foot high intensity approach lighting system with centerline sequenced flashers (category II or III)

MALSR: 1,400 foot medium intensity approach lighting system with runway alignment indicator lights
MALSR RY 24 CTLD BY ATCT BUT OPERATES UMMONITORED.

Centerline lights: 

yes

yes

Touchdown point: 

yes, lighted

yes, no lights

Instrument approach: 

ILS

ILS/DME

Obstructions: 

none

225 ft. tree, 5324 ft. from runway, 892 ft. right of centerline, 30:1 slope to clear
+144 FT HILL 4010 FT; 250 FT R; APCH RATIO 40:1 BASED ON DSPLCD THR.

[machogirl]

Does it makes sense (i have no clue), that a big cargo plane like that would use the short (by 5000 ft runway?)

That looks like they were shooting for the shorter runway.

I wonder when the first bits will come out about the communication between Birmingham Tower and the plane?

[machogirl]

I’m lost. Something either catastrophic happened, or for whatever reason, they had no idea exactly where they were with respect to the runway. (i know next to nothing and haven’t flown on a plane in 30 years)

[Yosemitest]

I found an interesting NOTAM.

!BHM 08/035 BHM RWY 18/36 CLSD

If I read this correctly, Runway 18/36 has been closed since Aug 03, 2012.
Does anyone knows anything about this or can anyone verify this?

[machogirl]

according to reuters (quoting spokesperson for mayor), no distress calls were made to the tower.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/14/us-crash-ups-urgent-idUSBRE97D0JW20130814

[Yosemitest]

The Airbus 300 is capable of landing on a 7,000 ft runway and it's no big deal, but if I read the NOTAMS correctly that runway was CLOSED on the 3rd of August and hasn't been opened since.
Now it would be normal for that runway to be closed AFTER the crash.

[machogirl]

I saw something about it being closed.

If they made no distress calls, what the heck? Then I’m thinking they didn’t know where they were. Was this the same crew that flies regularly from, to KY, and back? If it was, what the heck?

Was the flightaware data correct about those last few minutes in which there were some HUGE drops in altitude? If so (data correct), weird, and why would that not be troubling to the pilots/tower?

Why would they lose lift while landing? Instrument error or pilot error or ?

Very sad.

[machogirl]

Strange, just sad and strange. The angle of the debris field and the relatively intact cabin/front of the plane (from pics) looks strange too. Almost like the SF crash.

[Yosemitest]

Most crashes are "catastrophic", but it's quite normal for an aircraft on a visual approach with an experienced pilot, to turn a dogleg to final that tight to the runway.
A less experienced pilot might turn it further out.
But you must consider obstacles in the area, such as radio towers, mountains, and other obstacles.

[machogirl]

thanks