Region
Asia

Crash of a Dornier DO228-201 in Chennai

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1991 at 0730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Dornier DO228
Operator:
Registration:
VT-EPV
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bangalore - Madras
MSN:
7099
YOM:
1988
Flight number:
UB201
Location:
Chennai
Tamil Nadu
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4050
Circumstances:
The aircraft took-off from Bangalore at 0645 hrs IST. The flight from Bangalore to Madras was uneventful. The aircraft was cleared to land by Madras Control Tower at 0728 hrs IST. The aircraft touched down on the belly at a distance of 2,140 feet from the beginning of runway 07. The aircraft slided on its belly for approximately 1,500 feet before finally coming to rest on the runway slightly to the right side of the centre line. The port wing tip and the port engine propeller blades had touched the runway just before it came to stop. The rear passenger door was opened normally by the airhostess and the passengers were evacuated from the rear door. There was slight smoke near the bottom centre of the fuselage but there was no fire. There was no injury to any person on board. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred due to aircraft landing without extension of landing gears on account of negligent flying by the commander disregarding the laid down operating procedures. Failure of the copilot to bring to notice of the commander the deviations from the procedures and to verify and cross check that gears were down was the contributory factor to the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 737-2A8 near Imphal: 69 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1991 at 1246 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 737-200
Operator:
Registration:
VT-EFL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Calcutta - Imphal
MSN:
21497
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
IC257
Location:
Imphal
Manipur
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
63
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
69
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport at 1154 on a regular schedule service to Imphal, Manipur. On descent, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the visibility was low. After being cleared to descend to 10,000 feet, the crew obtain the permission to make a direct outbound course in view of an ILS approach to runway 04. While completing a turn to join the approach path, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the GPWS alarm sounded in the cockpit during 6,3 seconds. The aircraft struck the slope of Mt Thangjing located 39 km southwest of runway 04 threshold and disintegrated on impact. All 69 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred by reason of a grave error on the part of the Pilot-in-Command in not adhering to the operational flight plan and ILS let down chart and not realizing that his early descent to 10,000 feet and turning right for outbound leg without reporting overhead VOR would result in loss of time reference and as such misplace him in the hilly terrain. The Pilot-in-Command's action may have been influenced by his extreme familiarity with the terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Hindustan Aeronautics HAL-748-2M at Yellahanka AFB: 28 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1991 at 0815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Hindustan Aeronautics HAL-748
Operator:
Registration:
H1513
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Yellahanka - Yellahanka
MSN:
551
YOM:
1984
Location:
Yelahanka AFB (Bangalore)
Karnataka
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Yellahanka AFB, while climbing to a height of 165 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by fire and all 28 occupants were killed, among them 25 cadets.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb following an engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32 on Mt Ponmudi: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1990 at 0955 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-32
Operator:
Registration:
K2705
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tambaram – Thiruvananthapuram
MSN:
0410
YOM:
1985
Location:
Mt Ponmudi
Kerala
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While approaching Thiruvananthapuram Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck tree tops, stalled and crashed in a wooded area located on the slope of Mt Ponmudi. The wreckage was found about 37 km northeast of the airport and all five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 747-237B in New Delhi

Date & Time: May 7, 1990 at 0917 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 747-200
Operator:
Registration:
VT-EBO
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
London - New Delhi - Bombay
MSN:
20558
YOM:
1972
Flight number:
AI132
Location:
New Delhi-Indira Gandhi
National Capital Territory of Delhi
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
20
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
195
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8026
Circumstances:
After touchdown at New Delhi-Indira Gandhi Airport following an uneventful flight from London-Heathrow Airport, the crew started the braking procedure and activated the thrust reversers when the pylon of the engine n°1 failed. The engine partially detached, causing a fuel line to rupture and the fuel to ignite. The aircraft was stopped after a course of almost 3 km and all 215 occupants were evacuated safely. The fire was extinguished but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused due to the migration of the improperly installed diagonal-brace aft fuse-pin of the No.1 engine from its fitting which substantially reduced the load carrying capability of the engine fittings resulting in failure of the upper-link forward fuse pin due to excessive loads on account of probably improper landing leading to a partial separation of engine and fire.

Crash of an Airbus A320-231 in Bangalore: 92 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1990 at 1303 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airbus A320
Operator:
Registration:
VT-EPN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bombay - Bangalore
MSN:
79
YOM:
1989
Flight number:
IC605
Location:
Bangalore-Hindustan
Karnataka
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
139
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
92
Captain / Total flying hours:
10339
Captain / Total hours on type:
212.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
9307
Copilot / Total hours on type:
68
Aircraft flight hours:
370
Aircraft flight cycles:
302
Circumstances:
Indian Airlines Flight 605 took off from Mumbai, India, at 11:58 for a domestic flight to Bangalore. At 12:25 Bangalore approach was contacted and prevailing weather was passed on to the crew (wind variable 5 knots, visibility 10 km, clouds 2 octa 2,000 feet, temperature 27° C, QNH 1018). At 12:44 the aircraft was cleared to descend to FL110. Reaching FL110, vectors were given for a visual runway 09 approach. On final approach, the aircraft descended well below the normal approach profile and kept descending until it struck the boundaries of the Karnataka Golf Club (2,300 feet short of the runway and 200 feet right of the extended centerline. The aircraft rolled for 80 feet and lifted off again for about 230 feet and came down again on the 17th green of the golf course. The landing gear wheels dug into the ground and the aircraft impacted a 12 feet high embankment, causing the gears and engines to be sheared off. The aircraft continued over the embankment and came to rest in a grassy, marshy and rocky area.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilots to realize the gravity of the situation and respond immediately towards proper action of moving the throttles, even after the radio altitude call-outs of "Four hundred", "Three hundred" and "Two hundred" feet, in spite of knowing that the plane was in idle/open descent mode. However, identification of the cause for the engagement of idle/open descent mode in short final approach during the crucial period of the flight is not possible.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dornier DO228-201 near Indapur: 11 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1989 at 1953 LT
Type of aircraft:
Dornier DO228
Operator:
Registration:
VT-EJF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pune - Hyderabad
MSN:
8052
YOM:
1985
Flight number:
PF624
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Captain / Total flying hours:
4459
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off from Pune at 1928 hrs. The flight was uneventful up to 1943 hrs. Soon thereafter, the aircraft started losing height rapidly with increasing speed. The pilot attempted recover the aircraft from the dive but the aircraft continued to lose height till it impacted the backwaters Ujjaini Dam near Indapur village, 129 ms east-southeast of Pune. The aircraft disintegrated into multiple pieces, killing all persons on board the aircraft. The accident occurred during night conditions.
Probable cause:
Entry of the aircraft into severe turbulent conditions while passing through clouds, leading to rapid loss of height of the aircraft because of inappropriate action by the pilots. As a result, the aircraft entered a spiral. This was not recognised by the pilots, resulting in initiation of incorrect recovery action by pulling back on the control column instead of first levelling the wings. The possibility of jamming of the elevator of the aircraft cannot be ruled out as one of the probable cause of the accident. Disorientation; unpreparedness of the pilots and their failure to recognise in time, a serious situation and take appropriate corrective action; long breaks in night flying in the case of the captain and temporary malfunction or sluggishness of ADI are the contributory causes.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 100 in Guwahati: 34 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1988 at 0856 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DMC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Silchar - Guwahati
MSN:
10173
YOM:
1961
Flight number:
PF703
Location:
Guwahati
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
31
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Captain / Total flying hours:
5673
Circumstances:
Vayudoot F27 aircraft VT-DMC was operating scheduled flight VDT703 Silchar - Guwahati on 19-10-1988. There were 34 persons on board including 3 crew members. The aircraft took off from Silchar at around 0810LT from runway 06. The weather report at that time was visibility 3 km with rain. After takeoff, the aircraft gave estimate time to Silchar tower of its passing the Point Hotel at 0820LT and the estimated time of arrival at Guwahati was at 0850LT. At 0823LT the flight reported over Point Hotel at FL105 and thereafter the aircraft was in contact with Guwahati control when the flight was cleared to change over to Guwahati control tower. At 0839LT the aircraft reported ATC that they are passing through FL55 for 40 and will call over VOR for ILS let down at out bound. At 0846LT the aircraft commenced procedure turn. At 0847LT the aircraft reported ATC that they are not getting glide path. At 0848:15LT the aircraft reported turning inbound after completing procedure turn. At 0848:45LT the aircraft reported outer marker inbond. The aircraft lost contact with ATC at 0853:30LT. The aircraft was destroyed due impact with a hill and post impact fire at a distance of more than 10 nautical miles from Guwahati Airport. All persons on board received fatal injuries.
Probable cause:
An error on the part of the pilot-in-command in obeying the localiser bar on the outbound leg when it is supposed to be disobeyed and which has resulted in disorientation of the pilot resultant effect of which is total non-adherence of the ILS let down procedure at Guwahati viz. failure to monitor the middle and outer locators, allowing the aircraft to descend below 2750 feet without intercepting the localiser and glide slope. The wrong clearance by ATC in asking the aircraft to report outer marker inbound when Captain-in-command reported non-availability of the Glide slope has misled the captain and as such has contributed to the accident. The possibility of sabotage or the aircraft outliving its age has been ruled out. The pilot failed to follow approved procedures, directives, instructions, etc.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2A8 in Ahmedabad: 133 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1988 at 0653 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 737-200
Operator:
Registration:
VT-EAH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bombay - Ahmedabad
MSN:
20481
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
IC113
Location:
Ahmedabad
Gujarat
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
129
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
133
Captain / Total flying hours:
5985
Aircraft flight hours:
42750
Aircraft flight cycles:
47520
Circumstances:
Indian Airlines B-737 aircraft VT-EAH was operating scheduled flight IC113 (Bombay - Ahmedabad sector) on 19-10-1988. There were 135 occupants on board including 6 crew members. Aircraft contacted Ahmedabad Approach Control at 0620LT. Ahmedabad weather as per Metar of 0540LT was passed to the aircraft and again at 0625LT (speci) of 0610LT was passed to the aircraft and then visibility has been reduced from 6 km to 3 km. Clearance to descend to FL150 was given at 0632LT and the aircraft was further cleared to FL55, 25 DME at 0636LT. At 0641LT, the aircraft was advised to report over Ahmedabad VOR and 'Speci' of 0640LT was also transmitted to the aircraft as per the same the winds were calm, visibility 2 km in haze and was 1010. QNH was correctly read back by the aircraft. The pilot decided to carry localiser-DME approach for runway 23 and reported overhead Ahmedabad. The aircraft went outbound and reported turning inbound. This was the last transmission from the aircraft and thereafter contact with the ATC was lost at 0650:53. The aircraft was found crashed at a distance of 2,540 meters from the beginning of runway 23 on the extended centre line of the runway in a paddy field at about 0653LT. Out of 135 persons on board, 133 received fatal injuries. The remaining two were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed due to post impact fire.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident is attributed to error on part of the pilot-in-command as well as copilot due to non adherence to laid down procedures under poor visibility conditions. Both pilot and copilot failed to follow approved procedures, directives, instructions, etc. Weather was considered as a contributing factor.
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