Key Takeaways:
- A federal investigation into the UPS cargo jet crash in Louisville, Kentucky, found that the plane’s engine detached from the wing due to metal fatigue and hardware stress.
- The crash resulted in the deaths of 14 people, including the plane’s three crew members and 11 people on the ground, and injured 23 others.
- The investigation revealed evidence of fatigue cracks and excessive overload in a part connecting the left engine to the wing.
- The plane’s engine completely detached and crashed into the body of the aircraft as it took off, causing a trail of destruction in an industrial area near the airport.
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published a preliminary crash report, including frame-by-frame footage and photos of the wreckage.
The recent crash of a UPS cargo jet in Louisville, Kentucky, has been the subject of a federal investigation, which has shed light on the cause of the tragic accident. According to the preliminary crash report published by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the plane’s engine detached from the wing due to metal fatigue and hardware stress, resulting in the deaths of 14 people. The report included frame-by-frame footage of the General Electric-made engine completely detaching and crashing into the body of the Honolulu-bound plane as it took off. This footage, along with photos of the wreckage being studied at the NTSB laboratory, provides a detailed understanding of the events leading up to the crash.
The investigation found evidence of fatigue cracks as well as areas of failure from excessive overload in a part connecting the left engine of the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter to the wing. This suggests that the engine’s detachment was not an isolated incident, but rather the result of a combination of factors that ultimately led to the catastrophic failure. The report also noted that the plane’s three crew members and 11 people on the ground died in the crash, while another 23 people on the ground were injured. The crash left a trail of destruction in an industrial area near Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport, with satellite images in the report showing the extent of the damage.
The plane’s flight path and subsequent crash were also detailed in the report. According to the NTSB, the plane initially rose about 30 feet above the ground and cleared a fence at the end of a runway before its main landing gear struck the roof of a UPS warehouse on the outskirts of the airport. The plane then struck a storage yard and two other buildings, including a petroleum recycling facility, and was mostly consumed by fire. This sequence of events highlights the severity of the crash and the potential consequences of such an accident.
The MD-11 involved in the crash was a 34-year-old three-engine jet, which raises questions about the maintenance and inspection of older aircraft. The report’s findings on metal fatigue and hardware stress suggest that the age of the plane may have been a contributing factor in the crash. As the investigation continues, it is likely that more information will come to light about the maintenance and inspection history of the plane, as well as any potential safety concerns that may have been raised prior to the crash.
The NTSB’s preliminary report provides a detailed account of the crash and its causes, but it is likely that the full investigation will take several months to complete. In the meantime, the report’s findings will be carefully reviewed by aviation safety experts and regulators to identify any potential safety concerns and implement measures to prevent similar accidents in the future. The crash of the UPS cargo jet is a tragic reminder of the importance of aviation safety and the need for ongoing vigilance and maintenance to prevent such accidents.
In conclusion, the federal investigation into the UPS cargo jet crash has found that the plane’s engine detached from the wing due to metal fatigue and hardware stress, resulting in the deaths of 14 people. The report’s findings highlight the importance of regular maintenance and inspection of aircraft, particularly older planes, to prevent such accidents. As the investigation continues, it is likely that more information will come to light about the causes of the crash and any potential safety concerns that may have been raised prior to the accident. The aviation industry will be closely watching the outcome of the investigation and implementing any necessary measures to prevent similar accidents in the future.
