Crash of a Boeing 737-2A8 in New Delhi: 48 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1973 at 2158 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 737-200
Operator:
Registration:
VT-EAM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Madras - New Delhi
MSN:
20486/279
YOM:
1971
Flight number:
IC440
Location:
New Delhi-Palam
National Capital Territory of Delhi
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
58
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
48
Circumstances:
On final approach to New Delhi-Palam Airport by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In below-minimum visibility, despite he was unable to locate the runway, the captain decided to continue the approach and passed below the glide. With the flaps down to 40°, the airplane struck power cables and crashed in flames near the district of Vasant Vihar, about 3 km east of the airport. Five crew members and 43 passengers were killed while 17 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration and poor flight planing on part of the flight crew.

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Longview: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1973 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
Registration:
N73JB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dallas - Longview
MSN:
BA-218
YOM:
1956
Location:
Longview
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
5600
Captain / Total hours on type:
2600.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Longview Airport by night, the pilot encountered marginal weather conditions with limited visibility. On final, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in flames 1,75 mile short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees on final approach after the pilot misjudged distance and altitude. The following factors were reported:
- High obstructions,
- Pilot fatigue,
- Hit trees 32 feet agl 1,75 mile from airport,
- Pilot had landing lights on and gear down.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL in Rimouski: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CF-QBB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10081
YOM:
1943
Location:
Rimouski
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While on an instrument approach to Rimouski Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck a tree and crashed 5 km southeast of Rimouski. The airplane was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 200 in Faysalabad

Date & Time: May 28, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
AP-AUW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Multan - Faysalabad
MSN:
10331
YOM:
1967
Location:
Faysalabad
Punjab (پنجاب)
Country:
Pakistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
12767
Aircraft flight cycles:
16500
Circumstances:
On final approach, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck tree tops and crashed 800 meters short of runway threshold. All 40 occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Minneapolis: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1973 at 1607 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 411
Operator:
Registration:
N4932T
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Minneapolis - Gwinner
MSN:
411-0132
YOM:
1965
Location:
Minneapolis-Saint Paul
Minnesota
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
3450
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine lost power. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine malfunction during initial climb caused by an improper adjustment of the fuel injection system. The following factors were reported:
- Improper maintenance,
- The pilot failed to follow approved procedures,
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- The pilot failed to use all available runway,
- Partial loss of power on left engine because fuel mixt too rich,
- The pilot failed to feather the left propeller,
- Got below VMC,
- Near gross weight and aft CofG,
- The pilot took off from the intersection.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL in Svay Rieng: 11 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1973 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Cambodia Air Commercial
Registration:
XW-TDM
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Svay Rieng – Phnom Penh
MSN:
10078
YOM:
1943
Location:
Svay Rieng
Svay Rieng
Country:
Cambodia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Svay Rieng Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane was shot down by a mortar shell and crashed in flames. All 11 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove in Moses Lake

Date & Time: May 15, 1973 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
Jimmy T. Thompson
Registration:
N4041B
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moses Lake - Twin Falls
MSN:
04385
YOM:
1953
Location:
Moses Lake
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2795
Captain / Total hours on type:
15.00
Circumstances:
During the takeoff run, at V1 speed, the crew started the rotation when the left engine lost power. The captain elected to abandon the takeoff procedure but following a lack of coordination and poor experience, the crew lost control of the aircraft that veered off runway and came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- The crew failed to maintain flying speed,
- The crew failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Misused of flaps,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Left engine lost power,
- Pilot continued the takeoff and did not feathered the propeller,
- Flaps were retracted.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou in Oman

Date & Time: May 15, 1973
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
802
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
294
YOM:
1970
Location:
Oman
All Oman
Country:
Oman
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Oman during May 1973, exact date unknown.

Crash of a Vickers 827 Viscount in Salvador

Date & Time: May 15, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SRD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
398
YOM:
1958
Location:
Salvador-Deputado Luis Eduardo Magalhães (ex Dois de Julho)
Bahia
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Salvador-Dois de Julho Airport was completed in heavy rain falls. After touchdown on a wet runway, the airplane skidded then veered off runway to the left. While contacting soft ground, the undercarriage collapsed and the airplane came to rest. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24V in Havana: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1973 at 1603 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-24
Operator:
Registration:
CU-T876
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nueva Gerona – Havana
MSN:
67302403
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
CU707
Location:
Havana-José Martí (Rancho Boyeros)
La Habana
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Havana-José Martí-Rancho Boyeros Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck the ground and crashed few km short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed, three passengers were killed and 18 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident remains unclear but it was reported that the captain made some errors on approach while the copilot failed to use standard phraseology.
Subscribe to Airport (less than 10 km from airport)