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India
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Arunachal Pradesh

Crash of an Antonov AN-32 near Lipo: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 2019 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-32
Operator:
Registration:
K2752
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Jorhat - Mechuka
MSN:
10 09
YOM:
1987
Location:
Lipo
Arunachal Pradesh
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Jorhat Airport at 1227LT on a flight to Mechuka, Arunachal Pradesh. About half an hour later, while in cruising altitude, radio and radar contact were lost. SAR operations were quickly initiated and the wreckage was spotted eight days later, on June 11, by the crew of a Mil Mi-17 helicopter. The wreckage was found at an altitude of 12,000 feet in a wooded and steep area, about 16 km north of Lipo and 32 km east of Mechuka Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32 in Tato: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 2009 at 1405 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-32
Operator:
Registration:
K3062
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mechuka – Dibrugarh
MSN:
22 03
YOM:
1990
Location:
Tato
Arunachal Pradesh
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
Following a supply mission, the aircraft departed Kargong-Mechuka Airport (Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground) at 1400LT on a flight to Dibrugarh-Mohanbari Airport. Shortly after takeoff, while flying an altitude of 12,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Rinchi located near the village of Tato. The wreckage was found a day later about 25 km southeast of Mechuka. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in Pasighat

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1964
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Pasighat
Arunachal Pradesh
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Brahmaputra River while approaching Pasighat Airport. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in Along

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CMD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
12491
YOM:
1944
Location:
Along
Arunachal Pradesh
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Along Airport, during the last segment, the copilot-in-command failed to realize that his altitude was insufficient. The airplane struck a fence, stalled and crashed in flames short of runway threshold. All seven occupants were rescued while the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The accident is attributed to the copilot's failure to effect a safe landing. The captain was not authorized to permit a landing by the copilot.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK near Sela Pass: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DGX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
12142
YOM:
1943
Location:
Sela Pass
Arunachal Pradesh
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While cruising in bad weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of the Sela Pass. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK near Taksing: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1960 at 1040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CGG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Jorhat - Taksing - Jorhat
MSN:
12821
YOM:
1944
Location:
Taksing
Arunachal Pradesh
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
17868
Circumstances:
The crew left Jorhat on a supply mission to Taksing, Arunachal Pradesh. Following a navigation error, the aircraft went into a narrow valley and the captain, not familiarized with the region, made a turn to leave the area when the airplane stalled and crashed in a mountainous terrain. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to an error of navigation which caused the pilot to enter a wrong valley. During an attempt to turn back in a restricted area, the aircraft stalled and crashed. The fact that this was the pilot's first flight to this dropping zone, and he was not familiar with the terrain, contributed to the accident.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL near Saku: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1959 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DGP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mohanbari – Along
MSN:
9549
YOM:
1943
Location:
Saku
Arunachal Pradesh
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Eleven minutes after he departed Mohanbari-Dibrugarh Airport, the pilot reported his position to ATC. Shortly later, the airplane struck a mountain and crashed near Saku. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to an error of navigation on the part of the pilot. He entered a wrong valley and without proper assessment of the performance of his fully-loaded aircraft in the space available attempted to make a steep insufficient to effect a recovery from the stall.

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 a Consolidated C-109 Liberator Express in Bishmaknagar: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated C-109 Liberator Express
Operator:
Registration:
44-49628
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Jorhat – Hsinching
MSN:
4483
Location:
Bishmaknagar
Arunachal Pradesh
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Jorhat on a cargo flight to Hsinching Airfield, Sichuan. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was spotted by walkers on October 22, 2007 near the village of Bishmaknagar, Arunachal Pradesh.
Crew:
1st Lt Frederick W. Langhorst,
Cpl Robert L. McAdoo Jr.,
Pfc Joseph I. Natvik,
1st Lt Allen R. Turner.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando near Karoi: 34 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-107386
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Chabua – Karachi
MSN:
27073
YOM:
1944
Location:
Karoi
Arunachal Pradesh
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
While cruising some 55 miles west of Jorhat, the crew experienced technical problems and the aircraft caught fire. Out of control, it crashed on the summit of a mountain at an altitude of 2,000 meters and was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. Only one passenger, T/Sgt Marvin H. Jacobs, survived.
Crew:
Cpt Lawrence C. Archer,
Cpt Kenneth R. Arnette,
Cpl Buster Beck,
1st Lt James W. Brokaw,
S/Sgt Harlan G. Casper,
1st Lt Myron L. Cook,
T/Sgt Allan H. Cousins,
Pvt H. B. Erwin,
T/Sgt Philip Feld,
T/Sgt Robert E. Finks,
1st Lt John A. Flach,
S/Sgt Alva H. Floyd,
Pfc James G. Goodman,
Cpt Thomas J. Harper,
S/Sgt Joseph B. Hewitt Jr.,
S/Sgt Merrill R. Hyde,
T/Sgt Lawrence G. Jacobs,
Sgt Joseph F. Kehrer,
2nd Lt Robert H. Maddox,
Pfc Norman C. Maxfeldt,
1st Lt John F. McDonough Jr.,
S/Sgt David McKissock,
T/Sgt Scott F. Mitchell,
1st Lt Charles B. Moore,
1st Lt Harold B. Morse,
1st Lt Howard S. Pierson,
1st Lt William E. Price,
1st Lt Frederick J. Raubinger,
S/Sgt Ernest B. Schenck,
Cpl Lester F. Sellers,
S/Sgt Forman F. Smith,
F/O Cecil A. Weaver,
1st Lt Louis F. Worland,
1st Lt Marshall Young.
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