Training Check Airman Captain Dennis Edward Fitch , 46 , was hired by United Airlines in 1968 . He estimated that , prior to working for United , he had accrued at least 1,400 hours of flight time with the Air National Guard , with a total flight time of approximately 23,000 hours . His total DC-10 time with United was 3,079 hours , of which 2,000 hours were accrued as a second officer , 1,000 hours as a first officer , and 79 hours as a captain . He had learned of the 1985 crash of Japan Airlines Flight 123 , caused by a catastrophic loss of hydraulic control , and had wondered if it was possible to control an aircraft using throttles only . He had practiced under similar conditions on a simulator
Japan Airlines Flight 123
Japan Airlines Flight 123
United Airlines Flight 232