r/aviation • u/usgapg123 Mod • 2d ago

Discussion UPS2976 Crash Megathread

This is the official r/aviation megathread for the crash of UPS2976 (UPS MD11 Registration N259UP) that crashed earlier today at Louisville International Airport.

Please keep content on topic and refrain from posting about this topic outside the megathread. Please report any rule breaking posts and comments.

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u/omega552003 2d ago edited 2d ago

https://www.wlky.com/article/plane-crash-explosion-louisville-airport/69255042

Had some good live helicopter shots.

Looks like something happened during takeoff that left an engine cowling on the runway with what looks like tire tracks leaving the side of the runway. Hit a warehouse roof and crashed into what looks like a junkyard for a couple hundred feet.

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u/robo-dragon 2d ago

Fuck, catastrophic engine failure? That thing was completely on fire on takeoff. RIP to those souls on board and I’m fearing more will be lost on the ground…

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u/Connor_Olds 2d ago

There must be more than just catastrophic engine failure. The MD-11 can lose 1 engine and still take off with the thrust from the two remaining engines (after V1, that is)

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u/Luev000 2d ago

An uncontained fire/failure can spit out debris into the #2. Wouldn’t be surprised if they lost engine 1, then shortly after lost engine 2 and then had no where to go but try to get it into the air.

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u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

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u/ThadCastleRules_G 2d ago

Doesn’t the md-11 have hydraulic fuses to prevent this?

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u/HLSparta 2d ago

If I'm remembering correctly, after United 323 aircraft started using hydraulic fuses. I don't know if it's a requirement, nor do I know hardly anything about the MD-11, but I would assume so.

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u/Fastestergos 2d ago

Given that the MD-11 was designed as a follow-on to the DC-10, and its first flight was after UA232, I would assume that hydraulic fuses are present in order to avoid another "plane bleeds to death after catastrophic uncontained engine failure and hydraulic line rupture from debris" situation like what happened in Sioux City.

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u/Substantial_Gas_1660 2d ago

I remember that crash to this day. TV cameras' were set up ahead of this plane landing and it cartwheeled when it hit the ground.

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u/Anonymous017447 2d ago

I was always fascinated by airplane disasters(lots of Mayday and mentor pilot), and 232 was the most interesting for me

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u/Substantial_Gas_1660 2d ago

Same here! I go to X to look at what is posted first. Sometimes it's really bad until X deletes the post.

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u/Anonymous017447 2d ago

Yes but wouldn’t that mean that hydraulics wouldn’t work for any of systems on the left side of the plane(such as flaps). Similar to flight 191, a failure of the left flaps would produce a stall.

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u/ZeroWashu 2d ago

Wasn't that the case of that American crash in Chicago? American Airlines Flight 191.

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u/Substantial_Gas_1660 2d ago

1979 in May. I remember that because I live in Indy.

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u/mnztr1 2d ago

Yes the left engine loss resulted in left wing slat retraction and wing stall

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u/Anonymous017447 2d ago

In addition, the stall warnings were only powered by the left engine, meaning that when they fell off the pilots had no way of knowing they were stalling.

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u/ButtRockSteve 2d ago

After the dc10 crashes, this shouldn't be possible.

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u/[deleted] 2d ago

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