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]

I'm guessing you're correct.
The KBHM field elevation is 650 MSL at the approach end of RWY 24 and I'm guessing an Airbus A300 would need RWY 24 instead of RWY 18.
Looking at the Flight Track Log the last altitude was 1,500 Ft MSL.
But I suspect the data is incomplete.

Time	Position		Orientation		Groundspeed		Altitude		Reporting Facility
EDT	Latitude	Longitude	Course	Direction	KTS	MPH	feet	Rate	Location/Type
04:54AM	38.1700	-85.7290	222°	Southwest					FlightAware
04:57AM	37.9803	-85.7094	171°	South					FlightAware Approximate
05:00AM	37.9401	-85.7013	171°	South					FlightAware Approximate
05:01AM	37.8341	-85.6968	171°	South					FlightAware Approximate
05:02AM	37.7289	-85.6791	175°	South					FlightAware Approximate
05:03AM	37.6231	-85.6674	175°	South					FlightAware Approximate
05:03AM	38.1740	-85.7270	175°	South	125	144			FlightAware
05:03AM	38.1880	-85.7320	344°	North	168	193	800		FlightAware
05:03AM	38.2030	-85.7380	343°	North	170	196	1,900	2,520	FlightAware
05:04AM	38.2180	-85.7460	337°	Northwest	192	221	2,500	1,500	FlightAware
05:04AM	38.2370	-85.7550	340°	North	231	266	2,900	1,260	FlightAware
05:04AM	38.2500	-85.7600	343°	North	249	287	3,200	1,860	FlightAware
05:04AM	38.2550	-85.7610	351°	North	250	288	3,400	3,420	FlightAware
05:05AM	38.2810	-85.7500	18°	North	254	292	4,800	3,480	FlightAware
05:05AM	38.2890	-85.7370	52°	Northeast	259	298	5,500	3,540	FlightAware
05:05AM	38.2940	-85.7220	67°	East	264	304	6,100	3,300	FlightAware
05:05AM	38.2950	-85.7100	84°	East	271	312	6,500	2,700	FlightAware
05:05AM	38.2840	-85.6740	111°	Southeast	288	331	7,600	2,760	FlightAware
05:06AM	38.2780	-85.6660	134°	Southeast	292	336	7,900	2,760	FlightAware
05:06AM	38.2690	-85.6570	142°	Southeast	296	341	8,300	2,700	FlightAware
05:06AM	38.2560	-85.6490	154°	Southeast	300	345	8,800	2,700	FlightAware
05:06AM	38.2430	-85.6450	166°	South	302	348	9,200	2,160	FlightAware
05:06AM	38.2050	-85.6580	195°	South	315	362	10,100	1,920	FlightAware
05:07AM	38.1530	-85.6810	199°	South	358	412	11,200	1,620	FlightAware
05:08AM	38.0910	-85.6970	191°	South	394	453	12,100	2,160	FlightAware
05:08AM	38.0240	-85.7140	191°	South	403	464	13,800	2,640	FlightAware
05:09AM	37.9660	-85.7280	191°	South	412	474	15,100	2,520	FlightAware
05:09AM	37.9000	-85.7450	191°	South	420	483	16,600	2,460	FlightAware
05:10AM	37.8270	-85.7630	191°	South	426	490	18,100	2,400	FlightAware
05:11AM	37.7580	-85.7790	190°	South	430	495	19,600	2,280	FlightAware
05:11AM	37.6850	-85.7970	191°	South	435	501	20,900	1,980	FlightAware
05:12AM	37.6360	-85.8090	191°	South	441	507	21,700	1,980	FlightAware
05:12AM	37.5490	-85.8300	191°	South	447	514	23,200	1,800	FlightAware
05:13AM	37.4740	-85.8490	191°	South	458	527	24,100	1,500	FlightAware
05:13AM	37.4160	-85.8630	191°	South	460	529	24,900	2,100	FlightAware
05:14AM	37.3200	-85.8860	191°	South	454	522	26,700	2,160	FlightAware
05:15AM	37.2600	-85.9000	191°	South	452	520	27,700	1,680	FlightAware
05:15AM	37.2259	-85.9086	191°	South	451	519	28,000	240	FlightAware
05:16AM	37.1017	-85.9384	191°	South	486	559	28,000		FlightAware
05:17AM	37.0162	-85.9591	191°	South	484	557	28,000		FlightAware
05:17AM	36.9289	-85.9798	191°	South	478	550	28,000		FlightAware
05:18AM	36.8598	-85.9966	191°	South	480	552	28,000		FlightAware
05:18AM	36.7931	-86.0125	191°	South	482	555	28,000		FlightAware
05:19AM	36.7274	-86.0281	191°	South	478	550	28,000		FlightAware
05:19AM	36.6608	-86.0438	191°	South	474	545	28,000		FlightAware
05:20AM	36.5944	-86.0598	191°	South	480	552	28,000		FlightAware
05:20AM	36.5277	-86.0758	191°	South	484	557	28,000		FlightAware
05:21AM	36.4595	-86.0922	191°	South	485	558	28,000		FlightAware
05:21AM	36.3762	-86.1119	191°	South	482	555	28,000		FlightAware
05:22AM	36.3087	-86.1278	191°	South	481	554	28,000		FlightAware
05:23AM	36.2195	-86.1484	191°	South	481	554	28,000		FlightAware
05:23AM	36.1527	-86.1642	191°	South	481	554	28,000		FlightAware
05:24AM	36.0861	-86.1797	191°	South	479	551	28,000		FlightAware
05:24AM	36.0159	-86.1960	191°	12/td /nbsp; width=191rightcenter	South	477	549	28,000		FlightAware
05:25AM	35.9494	-86.2118	191°	South	476	548	28,000		FlightAware
05:25AM	35.8760	-86.2290	191°	South	476	548	28,000		FlightAware
05:26AM	35.8308	-86.2395	191°	South	476	548	28,000		FlightAware
05:27AM	35.7083	-86.2677	191°	South	476	548	28,000		FlightAware
05:27AM	35.6201	-86.2882	191°	South	474	545	28,000		FlightAware
05:28AM	35.5520	-86.3040	191°	South	469	540	28,000		FlightAware
05:28AM	35.5258	-86.3101	191°	South	471	542	28,000		FlightAware
05:28AM	35.4617	-86.3248	191°	South	466	536	28,000		FlightAware
05:29AM	35.3980	-86.3394	191°	South	466	536	28,000		FlightAware
05:30AM	35.3247	-86.3564	191°	South	464	534	28,000		FlightAware
05:30AM	35.2496	-86.3738	191°	South	462	532	28,000		FlightAware
05:31AM	35.1861	-86.3884	191°	South	461	531	28,000		FlightAware
05:31AM	35.1228	-86.4028	191°	South	460	529	28,000		FlightAware
05:32AM	35.0570	-86.4176	190°	South	460	529	28,000	-840	FlightAware
05:32AM	34.9840	-86.4344	191°	South	463	533	27,100	-1,740	FlightAware
05:33AM	34.9190	-86.4496	191°	South	465	535	26,100	-1,980	FlightAware
05:33AM	34.8474	-86.4658	191°	South	452	520	25,000	-2,040	FlightAware
05:35AM	34.6814	-86.5034	191°	South	447	514	22,200	-1,980	FlightAware
05:40AM	34.1040	-86.6340	191°	South	387	445	12,300	-1,800	FlightAware
05:40AM	34.0470	-86.6460	190°	South	387	445	12,000	-300	FlightAware
05:41AM	33.9930	-86.6570	190°	South	387	445	12,000		FlightAware
05:42AM	33.9380	-86.6690	190°	South	387	445	12,000	-1,920	FlightAware
05:42AM	33.8770	-86.6880	194°	South	346	398	9,600	-3,360	FlightAware
05:42AM	33.8750	-86.6900	220°	Southwest	288	331	9,500	-240	FlightAware
05:43AM	33.8490	-86.7040	204°	Southwest	288	331	9,500		FlightAware
05:43AM	33.8230	-86.7190	206°	Southwest	288	331	9,500	-3,960	FlightAware
05:44AM	33.7760	-86.7480	207°	Southwest	275	316	5,500	-5,520	FlightAware
05:44AM	33.7247	-86.7489	207°	Southwest	278	320	2,600	-1,860	Atlanta Center
05:45AM	33.6644	-86.7469	178°	South	248	285	2,500	-420	Atlanta Center
05:46AM	33.6206	-86.7456	178°	South	200	230	1,800	-540	Atlanta Center
05:47AM	33.5681	-86.7539	188°	South	191	220	1,500	-300	Atlanta Center

[Yosemitest]

The flight track looks shorty and normal.
If it was a fuel problem, then it was a mechanical problem.
If it was the engines and thunderstorms were in the area, it could have been hail damage to the engines.
We need to see the weather radar loop for 5:47 AM Wed, Aug 14, 2013.

[metmom]

Did the pilots/passengers survive?

[Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America]

The witness said the aircraft was just above tree level and both engines sputtering.. Witness said nothing about weather. Sounds like it ran out of fuel to me, or.. Could be contaminated fuel, too.

[Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America]

Two on board and both bodies have been located.

[metmom]

Crap......

[metmom]

What a mess.....

[metmom]

Mostly businesses in the area. Reports said it crashed in a field...no reports of casualties on the ground. Even though I was asleep and 12 or so miles from the crash I don't think we were having any bad weather at the time. Light rain and clouds, no thunderstorms.

Those can be pretty localized.

There was some major flooding not far from us recently and all we got was a light drizzle.

[Yosemitest]

Contaminated Fuel is possible, but not likely.
I'd really like to knows more about the weather at the time.
I suspect severe weather on final that did damage to the engines, and a micro-burst downdraft.
If there was severe thunderstorms in the area, like lightening and the lack of thunder due to turbulent air, the sound of the engines relative to the witness's position could have been affected.

[metmom]

But why hit a cargo plane? Terrorists want the maximum body count..

Fear.....

To instill the most amount of uncertainty and to prompt the government to crack down on our freedoms, all for our own protection, you know.

[Yosemitest]

Recent KBHM METAR history
Observation		Flight Rules	Wind		Cloud Cover		Visibility	Temp		Dew Point		Rel. Humid.	Pressure	Remarks
Date	Time (CDT)		Dir.	Speed	Type	Height AGL (ft)	(sm)	C	F	C	F
14-Aug	10:17AM	MVFR	360°	6kts	Overcast	4,700	3	23°	73°	22°	71°	94%	30.03	Rain Mist
14-Aug	09:53AM	MVFR	350°	4kts	Broken	6,500	4	23°	73°	22°	71°	91%	30.02	Mist
14-Aug	08:53AM	VFR	50°	4kts	Overcast	8,000	6	23°	73°	22°	71°	91%	30.01	Mist
14-Aug	07:53AM	VFR	40°	4kts	Overcast	7,500	6	23°	73°	22°	71°	94%	30.00	Mist
14-Aug	06:53AM	VFR	Calm		Overcast	6,500	5	23°	73°	22°	71°	94%	29.99	Mist
14-Aug	06:06AM	VFR	Calm		Overcast	7,000	9	23°	73°	22°	71°	94%	29.99
14-Aug	05:53AM	VFR	10°	3kts	Overcast	7,000	10	23°	73°	22°	71°	94%	29.99
14-Aug	04:53AM	VFR	340°	4kts	Broken	3,500	10	23°	73°	22°	71°	94%	29.97
14-Aug	04:04AM	VFR	Calm		Broken	7,500	10	23°	73°	22°	71°	94%	29.96
14-Aug	03:53AM	MVFR	Calm		Broken	1,000	10	23°	73°	22°	71°	91%	29.97
14-Aug	03:48AM	MVFR	330°	3kts	Overcast	1,000	10	23°	73°	22°	71°	94%	29.97
14-Aug	02:53AM	IFR	Calm		Overcast	800	9	23°	73°	22°	71°	91%	29.96
14-Aug	02:34AM	MVFR	Calm		Broken	1,000	10	23°	73°	22°	71°	94%	29.96
14-Aug	02:12AM	MVFR	Calm		Broken	1,600	9	23°	73°	22°	71°	94%	29.97
14-Aug	01:53AM	IFR	Calm		Overcast	600	10	23°	73°	22°	71°	91%	29.97
14-Aug	12:53AM	LIFR	Calm		Overcast	400	7	23°	73°	22°	71°	94%	29.98
14-Aug	12:07AM	LIFR	290°	4kts	Overcast	400	10	23°	73°	22°	71°	94%	29.98
13-Aug	11:53PM	IFR	270°	4kts	Overcast	600	10	23°	73°	22°	71°	94%	29.98
13-Aug	11:21PM	IFR	240°	5kts	Broken	800	10	23°	73°	22°	71°	94%	29.97
13-Aug	10:53PM	VFR	240°	4kts	Scattered	3,300	10	23°	73°	22°	71°	91%	29.97
13-Aug	09:53PM	VFR	280°	3kts	Broken	3,300	9	24°	75°	22°	71°	90%	29.99
13-Aug	08:53PM	VFR	210°	5kts	Broken	4,000	10	24°	75°	22°	71°	90%	30.00
13-Aug	07:53PM	VFR	210°	6kts	Broken	11,000	10	24°	75°	22°	71°	90%	29.98
13-Aug	07:17PM	VFR	210°	7kts	Broken	11,000	5	24°	75°	22°	71°	89%	29.96	Mist

[metmom]

Witness said both engines were sputtering.. Could it have run out of fuel?

Would it have burned like that if it were out of fuel?

[Yosemitest]

No.
Minimum fuel reserve for that size aircraft and the track of that flight, it's not probable.

[Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America]

Good point. I didn’t see video of the fire, but it’s possible a fuel pump malfunction where there’s gas but the engines aren’t getting any. Or other computer glitch where engines are running too lean.. Pilot error too low to recover like what happened with Asiana Airlines, etc.

[Yosemitest]

Lightening strike and flame out.

[pnz1]

Via twitter, one pilot’s name has been released by the family?

[Yosemitest]

"Or other computer glitch where engines are running too lean."

Lightening strikes reek havoc on electrical systems and computers.

[machogirl]

A witness

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2605828905001/sonic-boom-heard-as-ups-cargo-plane-goes-down-in-flames/

Tower had to have heard something.

[1Old Pro]

I'm curious if the wreckage/debris field is consistent with a crash or indicative of an in flight explosion?

[JLAGRAYFOX]

You are absolutely correct!!!