Region
Asia

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Mumbai

Date & Time: May 9, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-AXD
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13294
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mumbai
Maharashtra
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the crew inadvertently raised the undercarriage before rotation. The aircraft sank on its belly and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Crew error.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.106 Comet 1 near Calcutta: 43 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1953 at 1635 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.106 Comet
Operator:
Registration:
G-ALYV
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Singapore – Calcutta – New Delhi – London
MSN:
6008
YOM:
1952
Flight number:
BA783
Location:
Calcutta
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
43
Captain / Total flying hours:
8710
Captain / Total hours on type:
589.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4391
Copilot / Total hours on type:
261
Aircraft flight hours:
1649
Circumstances:
On its scheduled return flight from Singapore to London the aircraft took off from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport at 1629LT bound for New Delhi-Palam Airport. Six minutes later, while climbing, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with the presence of a thunder-squall. The airplane went out of control, nosed down and crashed near the village of Jagalgori, about 24 miles from Dum Dum Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 43 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by structural failure of the airframe during flight through a thunder-squall. In the opinion of the Court the structural failure was due to overstressing which resulted either:
- severe gusts encountered in the thunder-squall, or
- overcontrolling or loss of control by the pilot when flying through the thunderstorm.
The following findings were pointed out:
- before departure the Captain was in possession of all the relevant meteorological and air traffic control information required for the flight. This included the warning of a thunder-squall,
- the aircraft encountered a norwester squall with thunderstorm shortly after take-off when climbing to its cruising altitude, and suffered structural failure in the air which caused fire,
- an examination of the wreckage on the site did not reveal any sign of sabotage, lightning damage, faulty workmanship, defective material or power plant failure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL near Mairang: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-AUJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Guwahati – Calcutta
MSN:
19149
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mairang
Meghalaya
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
In cruising altitude, the airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed on the slope of a mountain located in the Khasi Mountain Range, near Mairang, about 60 km south of Guwahati. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The port wing failed in the air due to an upload as a result of being subjected to loads greater than those for which it was designed.

Crash of a Convair CV-240-7 in Kailashahar: 16 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-240
Operator:
Registration:
AP-AEG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Rawalpindi – New Delhi – Dhaka
MSN:
82
YOM:
1949
Location:
Kailashahar
Tripura
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
En route from New Delhi to Dhaka, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was unable to locate Dhaka Airport. The airplane continued to the east and the captain eventually decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground when the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Kailashahar. All 16 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Agartala

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CLE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4653
YOM:
1942
Location:
Agartala
Tripura
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft bounced on landing. The pilot-in-command decided to go around and increased power when the left wing stalled and hit the ground. The aircraft went out of control and crashed, injuring all three crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Dibrugarh: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dibrugarh - Dibrugarh
Location:
Dibrugarh-Mohanbari
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crashed near Dibrugarh-Mohanbari Airbase while performing a local training flight. All seven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DK in Jamshedpur: 13 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
AP-AAZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Karachi – Dhaka
MSN:
12670
YOM:
1944
Location:
Jamshedpur
Jharkhand
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered technical problems in flight and while trying to make an emergency landing, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field located in Jamshedpur. All 13 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in New Delhi: 9 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-AUN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Madras – New Delhi
MSN:
13405
YOM:
1944
Location:
New Delhi-Safdarjung
National Capital Territory of Delhi
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While descending to New Delhi-Safdarjung Airport, the pilot-in-command made a last turn to the left to join the approach path when the left engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed in a field, killing all nine occupants.
Probable cause:
On account of the inclined attitude of the plane at the critical period during a steep turn of some duration, the port engine very likely became starved of fuel, as it was being fed from the port main tank which unlike the starboard which had more than adequate supply, at the time contained only about 18 gallons of petrol, a quantity inadequate to feed the engine in that position.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Agartala: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DFN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13628
YOM:
1944
Location:
Agartala
Tripura
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On final approach to Agartala Airport, an engine failed. The pilot-in-command elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located few hundred yards short of runway. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Barrackpore

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HJ880
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Barrackpore - Barrackpore
Location:
Barrackpore
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying in the vicinity of the Barrackpore Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a small lake located about 1,2 km northeast of runway 20 threshold. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft was lost. The crew was engaged in a local training flight in Barrackpore at the time of the accident.
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