Incident Overview
Date: Thursday 31 May 1973
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-2A8
Owner/operator: Indian Airlines
Registration Number: VT-EAM
Location: 6 km from Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) –
ÿ India
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 48 / Occupants: 65
Component Affected: Boeing 737 aircraft ? specifically, the approach and landing systems, including the flight control system, navigation system, and potentially the aircraft’s sensors.Boeing 737 aircraft ? specifically, the approach and landing systems, including the flight control system, navigation system, and potentially the aircraft’s sensors.
Category: Accident
A Boeing 737 aircraft, named ‘Sarangga’, crashed during an NDB instrument approach due to pilot error. The aircraft descended below minimum altitude and selected a 40-degree flap setting without visual sighting of the runway, resulting in a fire. Visibility was low, but the pilot maintained the approach.A Boeing 737 aircraft, named ‘Sarangga’, crashed during an NDB instrument approach due to pilot error. The aircraft descended below minimum altitude and selected a 40-degree flap setting without visual sighting of the runway, resulting in a fire. Visibility was low, but the pilot maintained the approach.
Description
The Boeing 737 named “Saranga” collided with high tension wires during an NDB instrument approach, crashed and caught fire. The visibility was below minima, but the pilot continued the approach, descended below minimum descent altitude and selected 40deg. flaps without sighting the runway. The plane had taken off from Madras at 19:15.
Primary Cause
Pilot error ? incorrect approach procedure, lack of visual awareness, and disregard for minimum altitude and flap settings.Pilot error ? incorrect approach procedure, lack of visual awareness, and disregard for minimum altitude and flap settings.Share on:
