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West Bengal

Crash of an Avro 685 York in Calcutta: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1946 at 0727 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
MW208
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Calcutta – Northolt
MSN:
MW208
YOM:
1945
Location:
Calcutta
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, while in initial climb, the engine number two lost power. The captain shut it down and elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field past the runway end. Nine occupants were seriously injured, six were unhurt and three others, among them the pilot and another crew member, were killed. S/Ldr Alexander John Hepburn and S/Ldr Ian Wallace Moreton Taylor from the 51st Squadron were killed.
Probable cause:
The engine number two was not giving full power at takeoff because the spark plugs were heavily coated with carbon and other substances.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK Dakota IV in Barrackpore

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KJ819
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14158/25603
YOM:
1944
Location:
Barrackpore
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after rotation, the left engine failed. The aircraft stalled, hit the runway surface, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. While all 18 occupants escaped unhurt, the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine.

Crash of a Lockheed 10E Electra in Barrackpore

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
AX700
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1139
YOM:
1937
Location:
Barrackpore
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on approach to Barrackpore.

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:
Barrackpore
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
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 Douglas C-47A-20-DK Dakota C.3 in Calcutta

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KG538
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13021
YOM:
1944
Location:
Calcutta
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, the right engine caught fire. The crew was able to extinguish the fire and the propeller was feathered. The captain decided to return to Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport when on touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and collided with a water tank before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Barrackpore

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-101050
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
30505
YOM:
1944
Location:
Barrackpore
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Siliguri: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
44-70301
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
566
YOM:
1944
Location:
Siliguri
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing, killing the pilot, sole occupant.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Barrackpore: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-60953
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
26828
Location:
Barrackpore
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed on take off for unknown reason. At least one crew member was killed in the accident.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper in Calcutta: 20 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1943 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-6471
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4923
YOM:
1942
Location:
Calcutta
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
After rotation from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, the aircraft encountered problem to gain height when it hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 1,200 meters past the runway end. All twenty occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were as follow: ceiling at 2,000 feet, horizontal visibility estimated at 11 km and light wind.
Crew:
1st Lt Dale Johnson,
2nd Lt Jasper A. Lagattuta,
1st Lt Kermit R. Peasley.

Ground accident of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Feni

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z7964
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Feni - Feni
Location:
Feni AFB
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Brakes failed during taxiing. Control was lost and the airplane collided with blast pen and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Failure of the brake system during taxiing.
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