# NTSB Report *Released* UPS Cargo Crash Flight 2976 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I3_kmoeYKw Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/0I3_kmoeYKw Generated: 2025-11-20T18:35:59.493+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The NTSB preliminary report on the deadly UPS plane crash in Louisville revealed that the failure was caused by the catastrophic detachment of the left engine and pylon assembly shortly after takeoff, which was attributed to damage to the spherical bearing within the pylon aft mount due to a lack of required maintenance inspections (SDI tasks). **Key Points:** - The UPS flight 2976 crash on November 4, 2025, in Louisville, KY, resulted in 14 fatalities (3 crew, 11 on the ground) and 23 serious injuries. - The left (No. 1) engine and pylon assembly separated from the wing shortly after rotation, igniting a fire on the left engine, which continued until ground impact. - Wreckage examination showed the forward and aft lugs on the left pylon aft mount were fractured near the 2 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, respectively. - The fracture surfaces on the forward lug showed only overstress failure with no indications of fatigue cracking, while the aft lug showed evidence of fatigue cracks in addition to overstress failure. - The left wing clevis, aft mount spherical bearing, and associated hardware were found with a portion of the left wing, showing the spherical bearing outer race had fractured circumferentially. - The accident aircraft (N259UP) had accumulated 92,992 hours and 21,043 cycles, and records showed two Special Detailed Inspection (SDI) tasks for the pylon/clevis support were not accomplished. - In response, UPS grounded its MD-11 fleet on November 7, 2025, following an FAA Emergency Airworthiness Directive. ![Screenshot at 00:03: The moment the left engine and pylon assembly detaches from the wing of the UPS MD-11, leading to the catastrophic in-flight breakup observed in the dual-view dashcam footage.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/0I3_kmoeYKw/00-00-03.png) **Context:** This video analyzes the preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concerning the crash of United Parcel Service (UPS) flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F cargo aircraft, which occurred on November 4, 2025, shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF). The analysis focuses heavily on the maintenance history and the physical evidence from the failed left engine pylon attachment, drawing parallels to the 1979 American Airlines Flight 191 crash involving a similar structural failure. ## Detailed Analysis The video dissects the NTSB preliminary report on the UPS flight 2976 crash, which killed 14 people. The core finding is the failure of the left engine's mounting structure due to a catastrophic separation of the No. 1 engine and pylon assembly immediately after rotation during takeoff. The report details that the left pylon aft mount's forward and aft lugs were found fractured, with the forward lug fracture being pure overstress, but the aft lug showing fatigue cracks alongside overstress. Crucially, the spherical bearing within the pylon aft mount was fractured circumferentially. The investigation revealed that the aircraft had accumulated over 92,992 flight hours and 21,043 cycles, and two required Special Detailed Inspection (SDI) tasks related to the pylon and clevis support had not been accomplished. The speaker draws a direct parallel to the American Airlines Flight 191 accident in 1979, where a similar engine separation occurred due to improper maintenance, highlighting that older aircraft models like the MD-11 require more rigorous, specific maintenance checks that were missed in this case, leading to the failure. ### Accident Overview - UPS flight 2976 crashed on Nov 4, 2025, in Louisville, KY, killing 3 crew and 11 on the ground; the left engine/pylon separated shortly after takeoff. ### Wreckage Examination - Fractures were found on the forward and aft lugs of the left pylon aft mount; the spherical bearing in the wing clevis was also fractured circumferentially. ### Maintenance Failures - The aircraft had over 92,992 flight hours; two required SDI tasks for pylon aft mount lugs and wing clevis support were not accomplished, despite the aircraft being on a continuous airworthiness maintenance program (CAMP). ### Comparison to AA 191 - The incident closely mirrors the 1979 American Airlines Flight 191 crash, which also involved left engine separation due to improper maintenance damaging the pylon structure. ### Safety Actions - UPS grounded its MD-11 fleet on November 7, 2025, following an FAA Emergency Airworthiness Directive issued on November 8, 2025. ![Screenshot at 00:00: Split screen showing dashcam footage of the explosion \(top\) and the truck driver's reaction \(bottom\) to the UPS plane crash.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/0I3_kmoeYKw/00-00-00.png) ![Screenshot at 00:25: Page from the NTSB Aviation Investigation Preliminary Report detailing the location, date \(Nov 4, 2025\), aircraft \(McDonnell Douglas MD-11F\), and injuries \(14 Fatal, 2 Serious, 21 Minor\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/0I3_kmoeYKw/00-00-25.png) ![Screenshot at 00:35: Sequence of six images showing the aircraft taking off, engine separation, massive fire, and subsequent loss of control.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/0I3_kmoeYKw/00-00-35.png) ![Screenshot at 05:37: Aerial composite view from Google Earth showing the accident debris field \(yellow dashed line\) approximately 3,000 ft from the runway end, indicating the crash path.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/0I3_kmoeYKw/00-05-37.png) ![Screenshot at 10:21: Close-up Figure 8 showing the severely fractured spherical bearing marked by red brackets, highlighting the component failure within the wing clevis.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/0I3_kmoeYKw/00-10-21.png)