New Delhi | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

En route to Srinagar, the aircraft encountered heavy turbulences when the left wing detached. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a field located about 10 km southeast of Pathankot. All 22 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed L-749-79-33 Constellation in Bombay: 45 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1949 at 0920 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-749 Constellation

Operator:

Registration:

PH-TDF

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Jakarta – New Delhi – Bombay – Karachi – Cairo – Athens – Rome – Amsterdam

MSN:

2558

YOM:

1947

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4115

Captain / Total hours on type:

1394.00

Aircraft flight hours:

3381

Circumstances:

The crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility while on approach to Bombay-Santa Cruz Airport. On final, the four engine aircraft christened 'Franeker' was too low and hit the slope of the Ghatkopar hill (240 meters high) located about 5 km from the runway 23 threshold. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 45 occupants were killed, among them 13 American journalists.
Crew:
Arnoldus Marcelis (Chris) van de Vaart, captain,
Cornelis L. van Kooy, pilot,
Pieter Zeeman, pilot,
Johannes Hoogland, radio operator,
Pieter den Daas, radio operator,
Heinrich Fronczek, flight engineer,
Jacob Willem Dalman, flight engineer,
Jacobus Verhaagen, steward,
Carola Graf, stewardess,
Janny Bruce, steward.

Probable cause:

The Board was of the opinion that two successive errors of judgment were committed by the pilot. These were as follows:
- He initiated a landing procedure at an aerodrome with which he was not acquainted, in weather conditions which were lower than the minimum prescribed for landings on that aerodrome,
- Upon arrival over the aerodrome, he flew at too low an altitude over a terrain which he must have known to include a hill which constituted a hazard for his aircraft, which hill he was not able to see, on account of the poor visibility and low cloud.
The Board further considered that the following factors contributed towards the accident to a considerable extent:
- Air Traffic Control did not advise the pilot to delay his landing until the weather conditions had improved, or otherwise to divert to another aerodrome,
- Air Traffic Control designated a runway for the landing which necessitated the aircraft venturing low over dangerous terrain as indicated above.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Barrackpore: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-93339

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Barrackpore – New Delhi

MSN:

13240

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and decided to make an emergency landing. The aircraft stalled and crashed in field located near the runway end. Two crew members were killed while the third occupant was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Unknown technical failure.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator VI in Brussels: 31 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1945 at 2045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated LB-30 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

KL595

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

London – Brussels – New Delhi

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following a long takeoff roll, the aircraft rotated but failed to gain sufficient height. At the end of the runway, the four engine aircraft hit a mound, nosed down and crashed in a huge explosion. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All 31 occupants were killed.
Crew (206th Squadron):
F/Lt Peter Green, pilot,
F/O John Dolphin Freckleton, pilot,
F/Sgt Dennis George Nightall, flight engineer,
F/O Bernard Connor, navigator,
F/O Harry Thomas Walter Alderton, wireless operator and air gunner.
Passengers:
S/Ldr Richard Charles Rivaz,
Dvr Rowland George Ashton,
Dvr William George Bayfeild,
Dvr George Henry Bowyer,
Dvr Leslie John Brannon,
Cpl Frederick John Edwin Cooper,
Cpt Philip Brian Crosby,
Dvr Sydney Crouch,
Pvt Cecil Henry Ellis,
Pvt Eric Joshua Ellis,
Pvt James Etheridge,
Pvt Cyril James Evans,
Pvt Richard Evans,
Pvt Bernard Fannon,
Pvt Thomas Fleming,
Pvt Thomas Henry Forsyth,
Dvr Albert Garner,
Dvr George Gibson,
Dvr Albert Edward Hubble,
Dvr William James Keeley,
Dvr Kenneth Mann,
Dvr Derick Moore,
Dvr Charles Mark,
Cpl Reginald Walter Pluck,
Dvr Reginald Pritchard,
Pvt Geoffrey Jack Withers.

Probable cause:

The rotation was attempted at an insufficient speed and the aircraft was in stall condition after liftoff.