Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Mumbai

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW293
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mumbai - Mumbai
MSN:
SET17
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training flight in Bombay-Santa Cruz Airport, consisting of touch and goes. On final approach, the instructor voluntarily shut down one engine. During the last segment, the aircraft banked left and right and the control became difficult. In such conditions, the instructor decided to raise the undercarriage, increased power on the three remaining engines and started a go around. The aircraft stalled and hit the runway surface, slid on its belly for several yards and came to rest. All three crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO in Jammu

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1947
Operator:
Registration:
VT-ATI
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4922
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Jammu Airport, the aircraft failed to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest. There were no casualties while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in the Pir Panjal Mountain Range: 25 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1947
Operator:
Registration:
MA965
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Jammu – Srinagar
MSN:
12819
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
Enroute from Jammu to Srinagar, the aircraft crashed in a mountainous area located in the Pir Panjal Mountain Range. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the 25 occupants was found. Walkers found the wreckage in June 1980 in an isolated area. The crew was from the 12th Squadron.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in New Delhi: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1947
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Agra – New Delhi
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing in New Delhi-Palam Airport, killing all 5 crew members. The fifteen passengers were injured.

Crash of a SNCAC NC.702 Martinet in Calcutta

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
F-BBFO
MSN:
140
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Calcutta. The operator SATI may be Société d'Avions Taxis d'Indochine.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman VI in Nal

Date & Time: May 12, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
VT-AZK
MSN:
803
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in New Delhi

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW225
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New Delhi – Northolt
MSN:
MW225
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the undercarriage were prematurely raised by one of the crew member. The captain continued and completed the rotation. After takeoff, he informed ATC about the situation and obtained the permission to return for an emergency landing. He completed a turn to the left and landed few minutes later. On touchdown, the undercarriage that were unlocked (due to previous damages) failed and the aircraft sank on its belly and came to rest. There were no casualties while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Premature raise of the undercarriage during takeoff.

Crash of an Avro 685 York in Calcutta: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1946 at 0727 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW208
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Calcutta – Northolt
MSN:
MW208
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, while in initial climb, the engine number two lost power. The captain shut it down and elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field past the runway end. Nine occupants were seriously injured, six were unhurt and three others, among them the pilot and another crew member, were killed. S/Ldr Alexander John Hepburn and S/Ldr Ian Wallace Moreton Taylor from the 51st Squadron were killed.
Probable cause:
The engine number two was not giving full power at takeoff because the spark plugs were heavily coated with carbon and other substances.