Crash of a Beechcraft B250GT Super King Air in Gwalior

Date & Time: May 6, 2021 at 2115 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VT-MPQ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Indore - Gwalior
MSN:
BY-373
YOM:
2020
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12324
Captain / Total hours on type:
9362.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5135
Copilot / Total hours on type:
50
Aircraft flight hours:
49
Circumstances:
Beechcraft Super King Air B200GT aircraft, VT-MPQ belonging to the Directorate of Aviation, Government of Madhya Pradesh (DoA,GoMP) was involved in an accident on 06.05.2021 while operating a flight from Indore Airport to Gwalior. The flight was under the command of an ATPL holder with another CPL holder as Co-Pilot. There was one passenger on board in addition. The flight crew contacted ATC Indore for clearance to operate the flight to Gwalior. The aircraft was cleared for Gwalior via airway W10N and FL270. Aircraft departed from RWY25 at Indore and climbed to FL 270. Aircraft descended into Gwalior in coordination with Delhi and Gwalior. Approaching Gwalior the crew were advised by the ATC that RWY24L was in use. ATC then asked the crew if they would like to carry out a VOR approach for the opposite RWY 06R. The crew requested for a visual approach for RWY 06R in the night time and were cleared to descend 2700 ft and called field in sight at 25 NM. Crew then requested for right base RWY 06R and were cleared to circuit altitude. Crew called turning right base with field visual and were cleared to land which the crew acknowledged. Just before landing the aircraft and short of the threshold, the main gear collided with the raised arrester barrier and came to a halt on the Runway 06R just beyond the threshold markings at 1515 UTC. The aircraft was substantially damaged, however there was no post impact fire. The 2 crew and 1 passenger received minor to serious injuries.
Probable cause:
The PIC (PF) carrying out a visual approach at night and knowingly deviated below the visual approach path profile (3°) while disregarding the PAPI indications, thereby the aircraft collided with the raised Arrester Barrier. Lack of assertiveness on the part of the copilot (PM).
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Non-Compliance to the SOP of “Change of Runway Checklist” by the ATC staff leading to the 'Arrester Barrier' remaining in a 'Raised Position' while the aircraft (VT-MPQ) came in for landing on runway 06R.
- Non-essential conversation by the flight crew during the final approach for landing causing distraction leading to a delayed sighting of the raised Arrester Barrier.
- Systemic failure at various levels at the Gwalior Air Force Base to ensure that the 'Arrester Barrier Position Indicator Lights and Integral Panel Lights' were not rectified in a stipulated time period.
- A robust alternate procedure was not defined when the 'Arrester Barrier Position Indicator Lights and Integral Panel Lights' were unserviceable.
- The Gwalior Airforce Base authorities did not install 'Red Obstacle Lights' on the Arrester Barrier Poles to indicate the position of the obstacle on the date of the accident as per the DGCA requirements (CAR Section 4, Series B, Part 1).
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130J Hercules near Karauli: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 2014
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
KC-3803
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Agra - Gwalior
MSN:
5640
YOM:
2010
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Agra-Kheria Airport at 1000LT on a combined exercice with a second C-130, carrying five crew members. The goal of the mission was to simulate drops at low altitude. At a height of about 300 feet, the aircraft encountered wake turbulences from the preceding airplane. It is believed that the crew attempted to gain height when control was lost. The aircraft crashed in the rocky bed of a river near Karauli. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed. Built in 2010 and delivered to IAF in April 2011, the aircraft was one of the six examples ordered by IAF.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32 in New Delhi: 21 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1999 at 0822 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K2673
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Gwalior – New Delhi – Pokhran
MSN:
108
YOM:
1984
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
While descending to New Delhi-Indira Gandhi Airport runway 10, the crew encountered poor visibility due to thick fog and requested ATC assistance. On short final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck successively a concrete water tank and power cables then crashed in the Pappankalan district, about 2,4 km short of runway. The aircraft and a building were destroyed. All 18 occupants were killed as well as three people on the ground.
Probable cause:
The crew was completing the final approach below the minimum safe altitude in reduced visibility due to thick fog.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 100 in New Delhi: 18 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1972 at 2242 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DME
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gwalior - New Delhi
MSN:
10175
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Aircraft flight hours:
24087
Aircraft flight cycles:
20130
Circumstances:
On a night approach to New Delhi-Palam Airport, the captain decided to abandon the landing procedure and initiated a go-around. Few minutes later, while on a second attempt to land, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed 1,600 meters short of runway threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 18 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
During the second approach, the crew decided to descend below the glide. The captain realize he was too low and initiated a go-around manoeuvre but failed to position the flaps in a correct angle, causing the aircraft to stall and to crash. The distance with ground was insufficient to expect a stall recovery. The lack of visibility caused by night remains a contributing factor.