Country
code

Manipur

Crash of a Boeing 737-2A8 near Imphal: 69 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1991 at 1246 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VT-EFL
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Calcutta - Imphal
MSN:
21497
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
IC257
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
63
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
69
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport at 1154 on a regular schedule service to Imphal, Manipur. On descent, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the visibility was low. After being cleared to descend to 10,000 feet, the crew obtain the permission to make a direct outbound course in view of an ILS approach to runway 04. While completing a turn to join the approach path, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the GPWS alarm sounded in the cockpit during 6,3 seconds. The aircraft struck the slope of Mt Thangjing located 39 km southwest of runway 04 threshold and disintegrated on impact. All 69 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred by reason of a grave error on the part of the Pilot-in-Command in not adhering to the operational flight plan and ILS let down chart and not realizing that his early descent to 10,000 feet and turning right for outbound leg without reporting overhead VOR would result in loss of time reference and as such misplace him in the hilly terrain. The Pilot-in-Command's action may have been influenced by his extreme familiarity with the terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated C-109 Liberator Express in Tulihal: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
44-48999
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Shamshernagar – Imphal
MSN:
3754
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed enroute to Imphal in unknown circumstances, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
S/Sgt Forrest T. Craig,
Cpt Boyd H. Gallaher Jr.,
Cpl Richard H. Gilmore,
1st Lt Gordon H. Tucker.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 Dakota III in Imphal: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
FD928
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Imphal - Imphal
MSN:
9695
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was returning from a supply dropping sortie and had been diverted from its home base because of the poor weather conditions prevailing. It seems the crew did not receive the diversion message and once again the radio frequencies were changed by arrangements with the USAAF authorities but not notified to this crew in their pre-sortie briefing. On reaching the airfield the weather conditions were found to be cloud with a ceiling of 400 feet but despite knowing there were hills in close proximity to the airfield, the pilot descended into the cloud and the aircraft struck the high ground and burst into flames after impact. Subsequently, it was discovered that the signal notifying the frequency changes had not been received by the parent squadron until 5 hours after the accident. It was commented that the Wing HQ could have passed the frequency change direct to the aircraft on the existing frequency before the change was implemented.
Crew (62nd Squadron):
F/Lt Joseph Barker Goodwin, pilot,
F/O Frank Hubert Pickard, copilot,
F/Sgt Harry Woddhouse, navigator,
F/Sgt Ronald James Hill, wireless operator.
Source: http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?5956-62-Squadron-Airman-13-2-1945-(India)

Crash of a Consolidated C-109 Liberator Express near Imphal: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
44-49235
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dhaka - Chengkung
MSN:
4090
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Imphal, killing all five crew members. The crew was performing a flight from Dhaka-Kurmitola AFB to Chengkung AFB, Yunnan.
Crew:
Cpt John D. Boger,
Cpl Harry T. Finley,
S/Sgt Gordon B. Gardner,
Pvt Samuel Snitzer,
Cpt Floyd F. Strohl.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-25-CU Commando in Manipur: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-24694
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Chittagong – Imphal
MSN:
26615
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances en route from Chittagong to Imphal. Three crew members were killed while the fourth was rescued. It is unclear if the aircraft crashed in India or Bangladesh. It is suspected the aircraft may have crash in the region of Misamari, State of Assam, but this is not confirmed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Franklin J. Murphy,
Murray K. Jacobs,
Lee M. Shull 1.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando in Imphal: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-3630
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chittagong - Imphal
MSN:
26763
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a supply mission from Chittagong to Imphal when descending to Imphal Airport, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese Mitsubishi Zero. Out of control, the C-46 dove into the ground and crashed in a field, killing all four occupants.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a North American B-25H-1 Mitchell near Nungba: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
43-4242
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Imphal - Mirzapur
MSN:
98-21243
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Some half an hour after its departure from Imphal, while flying southwest of Nungba in poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field. All ten occupants were killed, among them the pilot Brian F. Hodges and the British Army Major General Orde Charles Wingate, commander of the Chindits.