Pakistan | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

At liftoff, an engine failed when the undercarriage has just been raised. The airplane stalled and belly landed, skidded for dozen yards, overran and came to rest. All 11 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure at liftoff.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.106 Comet 1A in Mauripur: 11 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1953 at 0335 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.106 Comet

Operator:

Registration:

CF-CUN

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Demonstration

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

London – Rome – Beirut – Karachi – Yangon – Jakarta – Darwin – Sydney

MSN:

6014

YOM:

1952

Location:

Mauripur AFB (Karachi)

Sindh (سنڌ سندھ)

Country:

Pakistan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

Circumstances:

The crew (five flying crew and six De Havilland engineers) were conducting a demo flight from London to Sydney to show this new jetliner to potential clients in Southeast Asia and Oceania. While taking off from runway 25 (2,500 meters long) at Mauripur Airbase, the airplane failed to get airborne, overran, hit several obstacles, went through a perimeter fence and eventually crashed in flames in a small river. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all 11 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was caused by the fact that the nose of the aircraft was lifted too high during the takeoff run, resulting in a partially stalled condition and excessive drag. This did not permit normal acceleration and prevented the aircraft from becoming airborne within the prescribed distance. The pilot appears to have realised that the nose was excessively high and took corrective action, but this was done too late to prevent the aircraft striking an obstruction immediately beyond the perimeter fence before it became airborne. The following factor was considered as contributory: the pilot, who had only limited experience in the Comet aircraft, elected to takeoff at night at the maximum permissible takeoff for the prevailing conditions. The circumstances required strict adherence to the prescribed takeoff technique, which was not complied with.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter in Lahore: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 170 Freighter

Operator:

Registration:

G799

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Lahore – Peshawar

MSN:

12824

YOM:

1947

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances few minutes after takeoff from Lahore Airport, killing both crew members.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Wayfarer 21P in Khewra: 18 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1952 at 0700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 170 Freighter

Operator:

Registration:

G783

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Lahore – Peshawar

MSN:

12810

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On a flight from Lahore to Peshawar, the aircraft suffered an engine failure, went out of control and crashed near the city of Khewra. All 18 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 21E in Pakistan

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 170 Freighter

Operator:

Registration:

G780

Flight Type:

Military

MSN:

12803

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Pakistan. Occupant fate remains unknown.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Mauripur

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1951

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth

Operator:

Government of Sindh Province

Registration:

AP-ABQ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Mauripur - Mauripur

MSN:

FM.44

YOM:

1948

Location:

Mauripur AFB (Karachi)

Sindh (سنڌ سندھ)

Country:

Pakistan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight in Mauripur Airbase when on final approach, the single engine aircraft collided with an Auster J/5, stalled and crashed short of runway. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson 18C in Rahimabad: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Indian Government

Registration:

VT-CXX

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

1481

YOM:

1947

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on takeoff in unknown circumstances, killing the pilot. Sole on board, he was performing a positioning flight on behalf of Civil Aviation Authority of India.

Crash of a Douglas C-53 in Jungshahi: 26 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1949 at 2150 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

AP-ADI

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Lahore – Karachi

MSN:

4841

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew just started the descent by night to Karachi when the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain (1,185 feet high) located about 80 km east of Karachi-Mauripur Airport, near the village of Jungshahi. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 26 occupants were killed. Two days after the tragedy, the Operator's AOC was suspended for an undetermined period of time.

Probable cause:

An error of navigation on the part of the pilot in that the aircraft was not as near to Karachi Airport as he reported it to be in his last "position report", which, had it been correct, would have placed the aircraft past the last range of hills. It is apparent, however, that the pilot continued to descend further after having reported last at 2,500 feet at 2147LT in contravention of the 'standard letdown procedure at Karachi Airport' which he was practicing. The lack of visibility caused by night was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-15-DC Skymaster in Karachi

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

F-BBDS

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Saigon – Karachi – Bahrain – Paris

MSN:

10423

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Karachi, the four engine aircraft was too low, hit the ground and crash landed in a sandy area located two km short of runway threshold. All occupants escaped unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.