Region
Asia

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation in Bombay

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DIN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tokyo – Hong Kong – Calcutta – Bombay
MSN:
4667
YOM:
1956
Location:
Mumbai
Maharashtra
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
39
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Bombay-Santa Cruz Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. On short final, due to lack of visibility, the captain decided to make a go around. While trying to climb, the airplane stalled and crashed near the runway end. All 46 occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed. It is believed the climb speed was insufficient, causing the aircraft to stall and crash.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5A Mariner in Dabolim: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1959 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
16-306
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Biak - Negombo - Karachi
Location:
Dabolim
Goa
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way back to The Netherlands for maintenance purposes. En route from Negombo to Karachi, the crew encountered technical problems and elected to divert to Dabolim Airport for an emergency landing. While on approach at a height of 300 meters, the airplane went out of control and crashed in Vasco da Gama, near runway 26 threshold. Four crew members were seriously injured while four others were killed. A day later, all four survivors died from their injuries.
Crew:
Lt P. A. M. Landsdaal,
Lt M. J. A. Baarspul,
Lt J. Quispel,
Sgt A. Dijkema,
Cpl L. Bemer,
Sgt C. N. Gabeler,
Sgt C. Koster,
Sgt S. Bruin.

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-10-DK near Tobu: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1959 at 1410 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CYH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Jorhat - Noklok - Jorhat
MSN:
12493
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tobu
Nagaland
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Jorhat-Rowriah Airport on a supply-dropping mission to Noklok. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew informed ground he was returning to Jorhat. Shortly later, while cruising in low visibility, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the Naga Mountain Range. The wreckage was found near Tobu and two passengers were rescued while five other occupants were killed. The airplane was demolished.
Probable cause:
The aircraft crashed during an attempt by the pilot to clear high terrain under poor visibility conditions. He had previously descended to a low altitude in order to determine his position.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Dibrugarh

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HJ243
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Dibrugarh-Mohanbari
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Dibrugarh-Mohanbari Airbase, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the Brahmapoutre River, few km from the airfield. All occupants from the 11th Squadron were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Dibrugarh: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1959
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Jokai Assam Tea Company
Registration:
VT-ARY
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6681
YOM:
1944
Location:
Dibrugarh-Mohanbari
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while approaching Dibrugarh-Mohanbari Airbase. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-DO Skymaster in Chennai

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DIA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3094
YOM:
1943
Location:
Chennai
Tamil Nadu
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route to Madras, the primary hydraulic system failed. The crew failed to identify the failure properly and after touchdown at Madras Airport, the brake systems were partially inoperative. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, struck obstacles, lost its undercarriage and came to a halt. All 31 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the primary hydraulic system in flight due a wrong installed gasket.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL near Damroh: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1958 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-COJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mohanbari – Damroh
MSN:
10051
YOM:
1943
Location:
Damroh
Arunachal Pradesh
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
7131
Captain / Total hours on type:
6833.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2115
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1797
Aircraft flight hours:
12576
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off from Mohanbari at 0902 hours Indian standard time for a supply dropping sortie to Damroh. It was in contact with Mohanbari at 1028 hours when it was over Pasighat awaiting the weather to clear over Damroh. There was no further contact. At about 1345 hours the Duty Officer, Jorhat Control Tower received a message from Assistant Political Officer, Damroh that the aircraft had crashed at 1100 hours and four crew had been killed. In all there had been 3 flight crew and 4 ejection crew aboard the aircraft. One of the three seriously injured survivors died subsequently. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
While manoeuvring at a low height in mountainous terrain during a supply dropping mission the port wing grazed the side of a hill thus causing the aircraft to slew and crash. A contributory factor might have been the mismanagement of the fuel system which caused temporary loss of engine power and height.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Gurgaon: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
G-AMUV
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Karachi – New Delhi
MSN:
MW226
YOM:
1946
Location:
Gurgaon
Haryana
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While approaching New Delhi-Palam Airport on a cargo flight from Karachi, the crew reported an engine fire. The captain realized it would not be possible to reach the airport so he decided to attempt an emergency landing in Gurgaon, about 15 km south of the capital city airport. The airplane crash landed in a field, slid for dozen yards, struck several obstacles and came to rest in flames. A crew member was rescued while four others were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine number one that caught fire and exploded.

Crash of a Convair CV-240-7 in New Delhi: 23 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1958 at 2018 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-240
Operator:
Registration:
AP-AEH
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
New Delhi – Karachi
MSN:
52
YOM:
1949
Flight number:
PK205
Location:
New Delhi-Palam
National Capital Territory of Delhi
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Captain / Total flying hours:
4775
Captain / Total hours on type:
324.00
Aircraft flight hours:
12668
Circumstances:
The aircraft had landed at Palam at 1902 hours following an uneventful flight from Karachi. A thorough service check was carried out, and it was refuelled and loaded for the return flight to Karachi. The total take-off weight indicated on the load sheet was 41 589 lbs. The investigation revealed an error in the empty weight of the aircraft and the actual gross take-off weight was determined to be 41 319 lbs, which is 1 181 lbs less than the maximum permissible all-up weight. At 2018 hours the aircraft commenced its take-off run and was airborne at the latter half of the runway. Soon afterwards flames were observed at the western boundary of the airfield. The crash crew chief had watched the aircraft take-off. He saw the aircraft becoming airborne and then climbing to a height estimated by him to be 50 ft. He then noticed the landing lights pointing downwards and the aircraft losing height. He feared that a crash was imminent and immediately instructed the crew to proceed in that direction. At about this time the crash siren was sounded. The crash tender reached the site of the accident in about 7 to 8 minutes by which time the fire had reached large proportions. Fatal injuries were sustained by 4 members of the crew, 17 passengers and 2 others who were in the vicinity of the crash. Nine passengers and one other were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire.
Probable cause:
The captain did not properly observe and Interpret his flight instruments and thus inadvertently permitted the aircraft to descend to the ground immediately after a night take-off during which no visual reference was possible. A contributory factor may have been the slow reactions of the captain due to his state of health.
Final Report:
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