Region
Asia

Crash of a Tupolev TU-124K in Jorhat: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1977 at 1942 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-124
Operator:
Registration:
V643
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
New Delhi - Jorhat
MSN:
6 35 19 02
YOM:
1966
Location:
Jorhat
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed New Delhi-Palam Airport at 1703LT on an official flight to Jorhat-Rowriah Airport, carrying several members of the Indian Government, among them Morarji Desai, Prime Minister, P. K. Thungon, Minister of Arunachal Pradesh and John Lobo, Director of Indian Intelligence Services. On approach, the captain decided to initiate a go-around because the airplane was not properly aligned. Few minutes later, during a second attempt to land, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck tree tops, stalled and crashed in a paddy field located few hundred meters short of runway threshold. The aircraft broke in two, the cockpit was destroyed and five crew members were killed. 15 other occupants were injured.
Those killed were:
Wg Cdr Clarence Joseph D’Lima, captain,
S/Ldr Mathew Cyriac, copilot,
Wg Cdr Joginder Singh, navigator,
S/Ldr V. V. S. Sunkar, flight engineer,
F/Lt O. P. Arora, flight signaller.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Edavlli: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1977 at 0720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-EEL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
13290
YOM:
1944
Location:
Edavlli
Andhra Pradesh
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged on an aerial survey sortie in the foothills East of Velikonda range in Andhra Pradesh, India. According to the eye-witnesses and the weather information, the prevailing weather conditions over the survey region during the period were 'Cloudy weather with cloud base varying from 600 m to 750 m'. It was quite probable that the cloud base was still lower over the particular area, covering the hill tops. The pilot who was flying at an altitude of 2,000 feet when he arrived at the survey area, most probably took a left-hand turn circumventing the highest peak in the area (Nisam Konda 2,181 feet high) and then started to descend with the aim to get below the cloud base for visual flight. During the process, the pilot did not see a jutting out rock face on the adjacent hill, Podille Konda, which probably was obscured by a patch of low cloud. The aircraft collided with the rock face and caught fire.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was attributed to collision of the aircraft with a jutting rock on the top of a hill which was not noticed by the pilot in time to take evasive action as it was probably obscured by a patch of low lying cloud.

Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle VI-N in Bombay: 95 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1976 at 0135 LT
Type of aircraft:
Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DWN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bombay - Madras
MSN:
231
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
IC171
Location:
Mumbai-Chhatrapati Shivaji (Santa Cruz)
Maharashtra
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
89
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
95
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 27 at Bombay-Santa Cruz Airport, while climbing, the captain contacted ATC and declared an emergency after the right engine exploded and caught fire. The crew was cleared to return for an approach to runway 09 and initiated a circuit. On final approach, at a height of 300 feet, the airplane entered a nose down angle of 45° then crashed in a huge explosion about one km short of runway 09. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 95 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the 10th stage of the compressor disc, probably after a blade failed due to fatigue cracks. Debris sectioned fuel and hydraulic lines, causing the fluid to leak in the engine and to ignite while in contact with high temperature elements. The fire quickly spread as the crew failed to shut off the fuel supply system.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Bhopal

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1976 at 0921 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-AXC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bhopal - Indore
MSN:
20303
YOM:
1944
Location:
Bhopal-Raja Bhoj
Madhya Pradesh
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Bhopal Airport, while in initial climb, the captain asked the copilot to raise the landing gear. Shortly later, he realized that the aircraft's speed was below the minimum control speed and that the aircraft was losing height. He asked the copilot to lower the gear but before the gear would fully extend in a down position, the airplane struck the ground and crash landed. All 10 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 100 in Bhubaneshwar

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1976 at 1852 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DMD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10174
YOM:
1961
Location:
Bhubaneshwar
Odisha (Orissa)
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
32677
Aircraft flight cycles:
27978
Circumstances:
The airplane landed hard and bounced. It rolled to the right and struck the runway surface again with its right wing. Upon touchdown, the nose gear tyre burst and the airplane veered off runway and came to rest. All 23 occupants were evacuated and the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond as the right wingtip and the right engine were torn off.
Probable cause:
Improper recovery from a bounced landing.

Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle VI-N in Bombay

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1975 at 0833 LT
Type of aircraft:
Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DVJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
New Delhi - Bombay
MSN:
216
YOM:
1966
Location:
Mumbai-Chhatrapati Shivaji (Santa Cruz)
Maharashtra
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
87
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At an excessive approach speed, the crew landed too far down on a wet runway due to rain. After touchdown, the crew applied full brake and deployed the drag chute but this caused all wheels to block and all tire to burst. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, lost its left main gear and part of its left wing before coming to rest. All 93 occupants were evacuated, among them 12 were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The airport just reopened to traffic following the ground fire of an Air France Boeing 747 on June 12.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew.

Ground fire of a Boeing 747-128 in Bombay

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1975 at 0215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 747-100
Operator:
Registration:
N28888
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Hong Kong - Bombay - Tel Aviv - Paris
MSN:
20542/201
YOM:
1972
Flight number:
AF193
Location:
Mumbai-Chhatrapati Shivaji (Santa Cruz)
Maharashtra
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
18
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
384
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a 180 turn on runway 27 threshold to prepare for takeoff when the fire alarm sounded in the cockpit panel. The crew stopped the aircraft and ordered all 402 occupants to evacuate the aircraft. Fire spread quickly on the right side of the airplane that was destroyed. All 402 occupants escaped, 10 of them were slightly injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that tires n°11 & 12 located on the right main gear burst while the aircraft was completing a 180 turn on the runway, causing the wheel to struck the ground. Initial delay in shutting down the engines and an improper deployment of fire services caused the fire to spread.
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