Calcutta

Operator:

Registration:

VT-COA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

13859/25304

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, while climbing in limited visibility, the airplane hit trees and crashed. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Calcutta: 16 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1951 at 0745 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

VT-AUO

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Nagpur – Calcutta

MSN:

13265

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew started the descent to Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport in low visibility due to foggy conditions. On final approach, while flying too low, the airplane hit tree tops and crashed in flames few hundred yards short of runway threshold. A passenger was injured while 16 other occupants were killed. It was reported that the crew continued the approach at an insufficient altitude, apparently to maintain a visual contact with the ground.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL near Tezpur: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VT-CHT

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Handley Page H.P.70 Halton I

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Calcutta – Tezpur

MSN:

20662

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Tezpur on a cargo flight from Calcutta, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 48 km northwest of its intended destination in poor weather conditions. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halton I Calcutta: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-AIAP

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1354

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. Four crew members were injured while two others were killed, the radio officer Dennis Carter and the flight engineer John Stoney.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Calcutta: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1950 at 0356 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VT-CJD

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

12826

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, while in initial climb, the crew informed ground that an engine failed and elected to return for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located in Hatiara, about 4 km south of the airfield. All three crew members were killed and the aircraft was partially destroyed. It was en route to the State of Assam, carrying a load of iron and steel goods.
Crew:
Cpt Wallace, pilot,
Mr. Pandalay, copilot,
Mr. Kamath, radio operator.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the engine failure could not be determined with certainty. However, it was stated that the aircraft was overloaded at the time of the accident, which probably affected the engine's performances.

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 Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Agartala – Calcutta

MSN:

3089

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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.

Crash of a Vickers 604 Viking 1B in New Delhi

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viking

Operator:

Registration:

VT-CEJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

National Capital Territory of Delhi

Schedule:

New Delhi – Calcutta

MSN:

143

YOM:

1946

Location:

New Delhi-Palam

Country:

India

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll, the left main tire burst. Severe vibrations caused the left main gear to collapse. The aircraft went out of control and veered off runway before coming to rest. All 23 occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Tire burst and undercarriage collapsed during takeoff.

Crash of a Vickers 632 Viking 1B in Mumbai

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viking

Operator:

Registration:

VT-CLY

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site: