Calcutta-Dum Dum | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew received the permission to line up on runway 01L at Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport to perform a cargo flight to Pasighat. One minute later, the aircraft was struck by an Airwork Handley Page H.P.81 Hermes IV/A that was landing on the same runway. The C-47 was destroyed upon impact and all four crew members were killed. The Hermes stopped few dozen yards farther and was later considered as damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, the visibility was 2,000 yards by night.

Probable cause:

An error on the part of the Commander of the Hermes aircraft in turning down the R/T during the final stage of the radar assisted approach and in deciding to continue the approach under conditions which did not enable him to identify positively the correct runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.81 Hermes IV/A in Calcutta

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1957 at 0530 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.81 Hermes

Operator:

Registration:

G-AKFP

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Blackbushe – Karachi – New Delhi – Calcutta – Singapore

MSN:

81/1

YOM:

1948

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

The Hermes aircraft was on a non-scheduled passenger flight from Blackbushe Airport, England to Singapore with stops at Karachi, Delhi and Calcutta. While making a radar assisted approach to run way 01R at Dum Dum Airport, Calcutta, it collided (at 0000 hour GMT) with a Dakota aircraft which was lined up on runway 01L. The Dakota was destroyed and four members of the crew, the only occupants on board, were fatally injured. The Hermes sustained substantial damage but was not repaired. Two passengers were injured.

Probable cause:

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Jorhat: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

41-7797

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Calcutta – Chabua

MSN:

4289

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft crashed for unknown reason some 50 km south of Jorhat, killing all three crew members that were performing a cargo flight from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport to Chabua AFB.
Crew:
F/O Donald W. Mangino,
2nd Lt Harrison McDonald Jr.,
1st Lt Paul L. Updyke.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I into the Gulf of Bengal: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1545

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Calcutta - Calcutta

MSN:

8828

YOM:

1939

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport on a maritime patrol flight. While cruising at night, it crashed in unknown circumstances into the Gulf of Bengal. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew:
Sgt Reginald John Tompkins, pilot,
Sgt Richard Heseltine, observer,
AC1 William Arthur Ayres, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon I near Lahore: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1939

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.84 Dragon

Operator:

Registration:

VT-AEL

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Calcutta – Lahore

MSN:

6048

YOM:

1933

Location:

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Circumstances:

While performing a mail flight from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances some 60 km from Lahore. The passenger and the pilot were killed.

Crash of a Potez 62.1 in Datia: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Potez 62 (62.0 & 62.1)

Operator:

Registration:

F-ANQR

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Saigon – Calcutta – Jodhpur – Damascus - Marseille – Paris

MSN:

4031/12

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport in the morning bound for Jodhpur. While flying over Madhya Pradesh, it went out of control and crashed in a field located near Datia. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Hubert Robin, pilot,
Fernand Paujol, radio navigator,
Émile Schwager, engineer.

Probable cause:

Engine failure suspected.

Crash of an Avro 594 Avian III in Calcutta

Date & Time: May 31, 1935

Type of aircraft:

Avro 594 Avian

Operator:

Yatis Chandra Ray

Registration:

VT-AAN

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Benares - Calcutta

MSN:

110

YOM:

1928

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Circumstances:

The aircraft crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth in Calcutta: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1935

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

VT-ADR

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Calcutta - Calcutta

MSN:

3048

YOM:

1931

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Circumstances:

While circling around the Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, the single engine airplane collided with a second DH.60 Moth operated by Binoy Kumar Das. Registered VT-ABR, it was engaged in a local flight with two people on board. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth in Calcutta: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1935

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Binoy Kumar Das

Registration:

VT-ABR

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Calcutta - Calcutta

MSN:

1466

YOM:

1930

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

While circling around the Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, the single engine airplane collided with a second DH.60 Moth operated by the Bengal Flying Club. Registered VT-ADR, it was engaged in a local training flight with two people on board. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth in Calcutta: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1934

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

VT-ACE

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Calcutta - Calcutta

MSN:

1551

YOM:

1930

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The pilot departed Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport on a local solo training flight. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a pasture. The pilot, Major Harry Meade, was killed.