- Date
- August 11, 2021, 19:56 local (Aug 12, 2021, 02:56 UTC)
- Place
- Phoenix, AZ
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N296UPMcdonnell Douglas MD-11F
- Defining event
- Landing-aborted after touchdown: Tailstrike
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Parties
- FAA, UPS
- Case key
- 103762
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The flight crew’s incorrect pitch attitude during go-around.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The airplane experienced a tailstrike during a go-around at Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport (KPHX). The aircraft was substantially damaged, and there were no injuries. The operator and flight crew reported the flight to KPHX was normal. While on approach the crew noted some virga in the area and a wind shift. The crew reported the touchdown appeared normal and the spoilers began deploying. The pilot flying began to apply thrust reversers, and the crew noted the nose pitch up. The flight crew executed a go-around and returned for an uneventful landing. Post-flight inspection revealed damage to the lower aft fuselage. Maintenance examination revealed damage to the aft pressure bulkhead.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N296UP
- Reported as
- Mcdonnell Douglas MD-11F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 48474
- Built
- 1991
- Airframe hours
- 86,309
- Engines
- P&W PW4460, 60,000 lbs thrust, turbo fanP&W PW4460, 60,000 lbs thrust, turbo fanP&W PW4460, 60,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- United Parcel Service Co
- Registered owner
- United Parcel Service Co
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · July 18, 2021
- Departed
- KSDF · Louisville, KY
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- KPHX · Phoenix Sky Harbor, runway 25L, 7,800 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment
- Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 11, 2021
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 9,559 total · 7,948 in this make and model · 6,120 as pilot in command · 114 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 39
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 30, 2020
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 507 total · 507 in this make and model · 117 in the last 90 days · 28 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 340° at 13 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.86 inHg
- Observed at
- KPHX