Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Tulachan Dhuri: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1962 at 1320 LT
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AAH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kathmandu – New Delhi
MSN:
6216
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
29709
Captain / Total hours on type:
10000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
772
Copilot / Total hours on type:
422
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a scheduled international flight from Kathmandu to New Delhi. No weather forecast was available before takeoff. However, the pilot was to receive a forecast from New Delhi en route. The flight was cleared direct to New Delhi to cruise and maintain 8,500 feet and it took off from Kathmandu-Gaucher Airport with 4 crew and 6 passengers aboard at 1221LT. At 1302LT the flight reported to Calcutta FIC that it was 100 miles out at 8,500 feet. At 1315LT the flight reported to Calcutta '83° East at 8,500 feet'. No further messages were received from the flight, and attempts by ground stations to re-establish radio contact were unsuccessful. On 2 August search and rescue operations were instituted and on 9 August the wreckage of the aircraft was located on a mountain top at an altitude of 11,200 feet. All ten occupants were killed, among them the Indian ambassador in Nepal.
Probable cause:
The drifting of the aircraft to the north of its track, towards high mountainous terrain, under instrument meteorological conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Gurgaon: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AMUV
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Karachi – New Delhi
MSN:
MW226
YOM:
1946
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While approaching New Delhi-Palam Airport on a cargo flight from Karachi, the crew reported an engine fire. The captain realized it would not be possible to reach the airport so he decided to attempt an emergency landing in Gurgaon, about 15 km south of the capital city airport. The airplane crash landed in a field, slid for dozen yards, struck several obstacles and came to rest in flames. A crew member was rescued while four others were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine number one that caught fire and exploded.

Crash of a Convair CV-240-7 in New Delhi: 23 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1958 at 2018 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AP-AEH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New Delhi – Karachi
MSN:
52
YOM:
1949
Flight number:
PK205
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Captain / Total flying hours:
4775
Captain / Total hours on type:
324.00
Aircraft flight hours:
12668
Circumstances:
The aircraft had landed at Palam at 1902 hours following an uneventful flight from Karachi. A thorough service check was carried out, and it was refuelled and loaded for the return flight to Karachi. The total take-off weight indicated on the load sheet was 41 589 lbs. The investigation revealed an error in the empty weight of the aircraft and the actual gross take-off weight was determined to be 41 319 lbs, which is 1 181 lbs less than the maximum permissible all-up weight. At 2018 hours the aircraft commenced its take-off run and was airborne at the latter half of the runway. Soon afterwards flames were observed at the western boundary of the airfield. The crash crew chief had watched the aircraft take-off. He saw the aircraft becoming airborne and then climbing to a height estimated by him to be 50 ft. He then noticed the landing lights pointing downwards and the aircraft losing height. He feared that a crash was imminent and immediately instructed the crew to proceed in that direction. At about this time the crash siren was sounded. The crash tender reached the site of the accident in about 7 to 8 minutes by which time the fire had reached large proportions. Fatal injuries were sustained by 4 members of the crew, 17 passengers and 2 others who were in the vicinity of the crash. Nine passengers and one other were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire.
Probable cause:
The captain did not properly observe and Interpret his flight instruments and thus inadvertently permitted the aircraft to descend to the ground immediately after a night take-off during which no visual reference was possible. A contributory factor may have been the slow reactions of the captain due to his state of health.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in New Delhi: 18 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1953 at 0128 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VT-AUD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
New Delhi – Ahmedabad – Bombay
MSN:
13716
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 09 at New Delhi-Palam Airport, while climbing to a height of about 500 feet, the copilot made a steep turn to the right when the airplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion in a wasteland located about 2 km southeast of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 18 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause was an error of judgment on the part of the supernumerary pilot, flying as first officer, who executed a steep starboard turn could not come out of the overbanked turn in time because of the low altitude. Inexperience of the pilot with the type of the aircraft he was flying is deemed to be an indirect cause of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.106 Comet 1 near Calcutta: 43 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1953 at 1635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-ALYV
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Singapore – Calcutta – New Delhi – London
MSN:
6008
YOM:
1952
Flight number:
BA783
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
43
Captain / Total flying hours:
8710
Captain / Total hours on type:
589.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4391
Copilot / Total hours on type:
261
Aircraft flight hours:
1649
Circumstances:
On its scheduled return flight from Singapore to London the aircraft took off from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport at 1629LT bound for New Delhi-Palam Airport. Six minutes later, while climbing, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with the presence of a thunder-squall. The airplane went out of control, nosed down and crashed near the village of Jagalgori, about 24 miles from Dum Dum Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 43 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by structural failure of the airframe during flight through a thunder-squall. In the opinion of the Court the structural failure was due to overstressing which resulted either:
- severe gusts encountered in the thunder-squall, or
- overcontrolling or loss of control by the pilot when flying through the thunderstorm.
The following findings were pointed out:
- before departure the Captain was in possession of all the relevant meteorological and air traffic control information required for the flight. This included the warning of a thunder-squall,
- the aircraft encountered a norwester squall with thunderstorm shortly after take-off when climbing to its cruising altitude, and suffered structural failure in the air which caused fire,
- an examination of the wreckage on the site did not reveal any sign of sabotage, lightning damage, faulty workmanship, defective material or power plant failure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 604 Viking 1B in New Delhi

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CEJ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New Delhi – Calcutta
MSN:
143
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the left main tire burst. Severe vibrations caused the left main gear to collapse. The aircraft went out of control and veered off runway before coming to rest. All 23 occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Tire burst and undercarriage collapsed during takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in New Delhi: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1947
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Agra – New Delhi
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing in New Delhi-Palam Airport, killing all 5 crew members. The fifteen passengers were injured.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in New Delhi

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW225
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New Delhi – Northolt
MSN:
MW225
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the undercarriage were prematurely raised by one of the crew member. The captain continued and completed the rotation. After takeoff, he informed ATC about the situation and obtained the permission to return for an emergency landing. He completed a turn to the left and landed few minutes later. On touchdown, the undercarriage that were unlocked (due to previous damages) failed and the aircraft sank on its belly and came to rest. There were no casualties while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Premature raise of the undercarriage during takeoff.