Air TransportPreliminary report suggests pylon structural issues before UPS 2976 engine separation
The NTSB’s preliminary report on the UPS MD-11F crash outlines a rapid sequence of events triggered shortly after the freighter began its takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, in Kentucky, on 4 November.
The agency released a series of images showing the left engine and its mount separated from the wing moments after takeoff, but stressed that any conclusions about the root cause are still preliminary.
The MD-11F, registered N259UP, began its takeoff roll on runway 17R with no recorded anomalies. Surveillance footage shows the number 1 engine and pylon breaking away from the left wing, passing over the fuselage while on fire, and falling near the runway. Fan blade fragments and pylon components were recovered along 17R.
After the separation, the aircraft achieved only a shallow climb. According to the flight data recorder (which logs technical parameters from the aircraft systems), the jet did not climb beyond about 30 feet above ground. ADS-B transmissions show a final point near 100 feet.
The aircraft crossed the blast fence at the end of the runway and struck the roof of a UPS warehouse. It then hit a storage yard and additional buildings before being consumed by fire.
The debris field extended roughly 3,000 feet. All three crew members were killed. On the ground, 11 people died, two were seriously injured and 21 sustained minor injuries.
Accident recalls American crash in 1979
Early wreckage analysis suggests fatigue cracks and overload fractures in the attachment hardware of the left pylon. The affected areas include the forward and aft lugs of the aft pylon mount and the spherical bearing that allows controlled movement. The right-hand pylon showed no comparable damage. Components have been sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for detailed analysis.
The cockpit voice recorder (which captures cockpit conversations and radio calls) recorded the entire flight and is being transcribed. Weather conditions were favorable, with clear skies and light winds.
UPS grounded its MD-11 fleet three days after the crash following a recommendation from Boeing. The FAA issued two emergency airworthiness directives requiring inspections and corrective work before MD-11, MD-11F and DC-10 aircraft can return to service.
The event recalls the American Airlines 191 crash in 1979, when a DC-10 lost an engine during takeoff. The NTSB notes that its current findings remain preliminary, and the investigation continues with attention on potential structural issues and overdue inspections dating back to 2021 and 2023.
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