McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 near Chicago, IL — 1979-05-25
- Date
- 1979-05-25
- Location
- Chicago, IL, USA
- Aircraft
- McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10
Probable cause
NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.
NTSB narrative
On a clear May afternoon in 1979, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 departed Chicago O'Hare for Los Angeles with 271 passengers and crew aboard. During the takeoff roll on runway 32R, the left engine and its entire pylon assembly separated from the wing, severing hydraulic lines and electrical wiring critical to flight control. The crew continued the takeoff as trained but lost control just 31 seconds after liftoff. The accident was fatal, killing all 258 passengers, 13 crew members, and 2 people on the ground, making it the deadliest aviation accident in US history at the time. Conditions were day VFR with clear skies and 15 miles visibility.