The flight crew observed the tail-mounted engine was not operating. While performing an engine shutdown procedure, the crew noticed that the fuel lever wouldn't move to the closed position. They also observed that the hydraulic fluid quantities were all at zero. When the co-pilot tried to maneuver airplane it confirmed the loss of fluid when the airplane did not respond to his commands. The crew then radioed to the air traffic controller that they needed emergency assistance to the nearest airport. Sioux City Iowa was found to be the almost straight-ahead so it was chosen. After the captain briefed the passengers of the up-coming trials, a United Airlines DC-10 pilot instructor asked if he could be of any assistance. The captain asked him to see if there was any damage that he could see. The instructor found that the flight controls on the wings weren't moving and that the horizontal stabilizer had damage to the left and right side. The horizontal stabilizer is the part of the aircraft that controls elevation and what is known as yaw. (Right and left turning) Without hydraulics the crew was limited on how to control the aircraft so the instructor pilot recommended the use of engine power to maneuver the airplane. The idea appeared to work when tried and being that all other options were few, the crew adopted this plan of action. .
When flight 232 was about eight miles from the airport they lowered the landing gear. To their dismay they learned from the air traffic controller that they were lined up on a runway that was closed for repairs. The captain elected to stay on course because of the difficulty to turn the airplane. The air traffic controller said that the runway was 3000 feet shorter but they shouldn't have any trouble landing due to the repairs. During the final approach the flight crew felt they were on course to make the landing. However they were a little faster than normal, due to not being able to lower the proper flight controls known as the flaps and slats.