Zone
Tripura

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 200 in Agartala

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1970 at 1839 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DVG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10309
YOM:
1966
Location:
Agartala
Tripura
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
7273
Aircraft flight cycles:
6429
Circumstances:
Following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed at a too high speed and too far down the runway, some 2,775 feet past the runway threshold. After touchdown, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All 39 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew who continued the approach at a too high speed and landed too far down the runway, reducing the landing distance available.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 200 in Khulna: 44 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1969 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DOJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Silchar – Agartala – Calcutta
MSN:
10214
YOM:
1962
Location:
Khulna
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
44
Aircraft flight hours:
14221
Aircraft flight cycles:
12017
Circumstances:
While descending to Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions over the border with Bangladesh when control was lost. The airplane crashed in an open field located in Khulna, some 55 km southeast of Dum Dum Airport and was destroyed upon impact. All 44 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by turbulences and severe downdrafts while flying in thunderstorm activity.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL near Silchar: 24 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1959 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CGI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Calcutta – Agartala – Silchar – Imphal
MSN:
20176
YOM:
1944
Location:
Silchar
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
While descending to Silchar Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy turbulences. The airplane nosed down and eventually crashed in a field located 56 km west of Silchar Airport. The airplane was destroyed upon impact and all 24 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Structural failure occurred while the aircraft was flying through a thunderstorm. The failure originated in the port centre section and was due to loads which exceeded the ultimate design value for the structure. It was not possible to establish whether the pilot adopted the correct procedure for flying in turbulence.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL in Dhaka: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1958 at 1405 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CYM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Agartala – Dhaka
MSN:
19317
YOM:
1943
Location:
Dhaka
Dhaka
Country:
Bangladesh
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Dhaka Airport, weather conditions suddenly deteriorated. In thunderstorm activity, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed few km from the airfield. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control due to in-flight structural failure caused by atmospheric turbulences.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Agartala: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DGK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
KAL-2
Location:
Agartala
Tripura
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On approach to Agartala Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the pilot-in-command decided to make a go around. A second attempt to land was abandoned few minutes later. Despite the fact that weather conditions were below minima, the crew started a third attempt to land. On final, as the pilot-in-command was unable to locate the runway, he decided to make a new go around when the aircraft struck trees and crashed in flames few km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Decision of the crew to attempt an approach and landing in below minima weather conditions.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Agartala

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CLE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4653
YOM:
1942
Location:
Agartala
Tripura
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft bounced on landing. The pilot-in-command decided to go around and increased power when the left wing stalled and hit the ground. The aircraft went out of control and crashed, injuring all three crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Agartala: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DFN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13628
YOM:
1944
Location:
Agartala
Tripura
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On final approach to Agartala Airport, an engine failed. The pilot-in-command elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located few hundred yards short of runway. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-DO Skymaster in Comilla: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CYK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Agartala – Calcutta
MSN:
3089
YOM:
1943
Location:
Comilla
Chittagong
Country:
Bangladesh
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route from Agartala to Calcutta, a fire erupted in the cargo compartment. The captain decided to reduce his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The four engine aircraft crash landed in a prairie located in Comilla, slid for several yards and came to rest in flames. All three crew members were able to vacate the cabin and were unhurt. It appears that seven villagers were killed while approaching the aircraft that suffered several explosions. The exact cause of the in flight fire remains unknown.
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