Cockpit Transcript Details Last Minutes of DC-10

A determined crew struggled to control a crippled DC-10 and disagreed over what steps to take before the July 19 crash in which 112 of the 296 people on board were killed, a transcript released Monday shows.

The transcript of the cockpit voice recorder chronicles the final 33 minutes, 34 seconds of United Airlines Flight 232 after the airliner’s tail engine exploded, apparently hurling debris that destroyed the plane’s hydraulic control system.

The crew, alternating between hope and despair, discussed possible options for keeping control of the aircraft. At one point, the crew members discussed whether to try to lower the plane’s flaps.

“Hell, let’s do it,” said Capt. Alfred C. Haynes. “We can’t get any worse than we are . . . .”

Haynes and three others in the cockpit--all of whom survived--managed to steer and to control the plane’s attitude by applying power selectively to the two working jet engines. But, as they attempted to land in Sioux City, Iowa, the plane cartwheeled and burst into flames.

The transcript, released by the National Transportation Safety Board, showed the crew disagreeing seconds before impact about whether to shut off power to the plane’s two functioning engines. As they neared the runway, Haynes ordered the power eased in an attempt to slow the plane for its inevitable crash.

“Ease the power back . . . ease the power back,” Haynes said 22 seconds before impact.

“Maybe you can pull ‘em all the way off,” the first officer, William Records, suggested.

Haynes then told pilot Dennis Fitch to “close the throttles.”

“Close ‘em off,” Records repeated.

Fitch declared: “Nah. I can’t pull ‘em off or we’ll lose it. That’s what’s turning ya.”

At one point, the captain asked: “Anybody got any idea about puttin’ the gear down right now?” After a back-and-forth conversation, Haynes decided, on the advice of Fitch, to lower the gear.

About five minutes later, trying to stabilize the plane after a steep bank, a crew member tentatively identified as Fitch said: “Damn it, I wish we hadn’t put that gear down.”

Crew members said also that company engineers, with whom they were in radio contact, were no help because the DC-10 manual covers what to do if two of the three hydraulic systems are lost, but not if all are knocked out.

Twenty minutes before the crash, Haynes discussed evacuation procedures with a flight attendant and hinted that he thought the crew would be killed.

“You’ll get the command signal to evacuate,” he said. “But I really have my doubts you’ll see us (pause) standing up, honey. (pause) Good luck, sweetheart.”

“Thanks. You, too,” the attendant replied.

Finally, there’s a single word one second before impact. “God.”

The cause of the engine failure has not been determined.