Vayudoot | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft took off from Pune at 1928 hrs. The flight was uneventful up to 1943 hrs. Soon thereafter, the aircraft started losing height rapidly with increasing speed. The pilot attempted recover the aircraft from the dive but the aircraft continued to lose height till it impacted the backwaters Ujjaini Dam near Indapur village, 129 ms east-southeast of Pune. The aircraft disintegrated into multiple pieces, killing all persons on board the aircraft. The accident occurred during night conditions.

Probable cause:

Entry of the aircraft into severe turbulent conditions while passing through clouds, leading to rapid loss of height of the aircraft because of inappropriate action by the pilots. As a result, the aircraft entered a spiral. This was not recognised by the pilots, resulting in initiation of incorrect recovery action by pulling back on the control column instead of first levelling the wings. The possibility of jamming of the elevator of the aircraft cannot be ruled out as one of the probable cause of the accident. Disorientation; unpreparedness of the pilots and their failure to recognise in time, a serious situation and take appropriate corrective action; long breaks in night flying in the case of the captain and temporary malfunction or sluggishness of ADI are the contributory causes.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 100 in Guwahati: 34 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1988 at 0856 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F27 Friendship

Operator:

Registration:

VT-DMC

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Silchar - Guwahati

MSN:

10173

YOM:

1961

Flight number:

PF703

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5673

Circumstances:

Vayudoot F27 aircraft VT-DMC was operating scheduled flight VDT703 Silchar - Guwahati on 19-10-1988. There were 34 persons on board including 3 crew members. The aircraft took off from Silchar at around 0810LT from runway 06. The weather report at that time was visibility 3 km with rain. After takeoff, the aircraft gave estimate time to Silchar tower of its passing the Point Hotel at 0820LT and the estimated time of arrival at Guwahati was at 0850LT. At 0823LT the flight reported over Point Hotel at FL105 and thereafter the aircraft was in contact with Guwahati control when the flight was cleared to change over to Guwahati control tower. At 0839LT the aircraft reported ATC that they are passing through FL55 for 40 and will call over VOR for ILS let down at out bound. At 0846LT the aircraft commenced procedure turn. At 0847LT the aircraft reported ATC that they are not getting glide path. At 0848:15LT the aircraft reported turning inbound after completing procedure turn. At 0848:45LT the aircraft reported outer marker inbond. The aircraft lost contact with ATC at 0853:30LT. The aircraft was destroyed due impact with a hill and post impact fire at a distance of more than 10 nautical miles from Guwahati Airport. All persons on board received fatal injuries.

Probable cause:

An error on the part of the pilot-in-command in obeying the localiser bar on the outbound leg when it is supposed to be disobeyed and which has resulted in disorientation of the pilot resultant effect of which is total non-adherence of the ILS let down procedure at Guwahati viz. failure to monitor the middle and outer locators, allowing the aircraft to descend below 2750 feet without intercepting the localiser and glide slope. The wrong clearance by ATC in asking the aircraft to report outer marker inbound when Captain-in-command reported non-availability of the Glide slope has misled the captain and as such has contributed to the accident. The possibility of sabotage or the aircraft outliving its age has been ruled out. The pilot failed to follow approved procedures, directives, instructions, etc.

Ground accident of a Fokker F27 Friendship 100 in Calcutta

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1988 at 1145 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F27 Friendship

Operator:

Registration:

VT-DMB

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Calcutta - Biratnagar

MSN:

10172

YOM:

1961

Flight number:

PF701

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

53680

Aircraft flight cycles:

51890

Circumstances:

While taxiing at Calcutta-Dum Dum in poor visibility, the aircraft collided with a catering truck. On impact, a part of the left wing was torn off and the aircraft came to rest. All 43 occupants were evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. All three people on board the catering truck were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the driver of the catering truck failed to observe the ground markings and was unaware he was rolling on a taxiway. The lack of visibility was a contributory factor as the crew of the F27 was unable to see and avoid the truck.

Crash of a Dornier DO228-201 in Aurangabad

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1988 at 1758 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO228

Operator:

Registration:

VT-EJT

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Nagpur – Aurangabad

MSN:

8064

YOM:

1986

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

18676

Circumstances:

While nearing Aurangabad, the weather was deteriorating. ATC Aurangabad kept the pilot apprised about the prevailing surface wind and rain. The pilot too had similar observations of adverse weather and deteriorated visibility. The commander sighted the runway quite late and the aircraft was descended very fast triggering the Ground Proximity Warning System and aural warning. After coming close to the runway the pilot attempted to open power on the engines. However, he found himself unable to move the power lever forward. The aircraft continued to sink fast and crashed over undershoot area of the runway 27. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. No person on board sustained serious injury. There was no fire.

Probable cause:

The cause of the accident has been attributed as the commander while landing during bad weather had descended at a very fast rate and subsequently could not arrest the sink rate while approaching close to the runway due to improper handling of engine controls. Non-availability of deteriorating visibility conditions to the flight crew at the time of landing is a contributory factor.