The wikipedia article gives the story:<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines_Flight_232" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines_Flight_232</a><p>The quotation I like comes from this page:<p><a href="http://www.airdisaster.com/special/special-ua232.shtml" rel="nofollow">http://www.airdisaster.com/special/special-ua232.shtml</a><p>where they say:<p><pre><code> Subsequent simulator tests showed that other DC-10
crews were unable to repeat the effort of the crew
of 232. Investigators concluded that, in its damaged
condition, it was not possible to land the aircraft
on a runway. As a result, the crew was given much
praise for managing to put the aircraft down just
off the runway centerline and saving as many lives
as they did.
</code></pre>
I've heard that the simulator was run repeatedly with the scenario, and no crews hit the airport, let alone the runway, let alone landed the plane.<p>Outstanding flying by the original crew.