Incident Overview
Date: Wednesday 14 June 1972
Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-8-53
Owner/operator: Japan Air Lines – JAL
Registration Number: JA8012
Location: ca 20 km E of Delhi-Palam Airport (DEL) –
ÿ India
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 82 / Occupants: 87
Component Affected: Aircraft control system (specifically the ILS guidance system)Aircraft control system (specifically the ILS guidance system)
Category: Accident
A DC-8 aircraft, en route to Delhi, India, experienced a sudden and severe loss of control and impact with the banks of the River Yamuna following an ILS approach. The aircraft struck terrain due to a false glide path signal, resulting in a significant accident.A DC-8 aircraft, en route to Delhi, India, experienced a sudden and severe loss of control and impact with the banks of the River Yamuna following an ILS approach. The aircraft struck terrain due to a false glide path signal, resulting in a significant accident.
Description
The DC-8 took off from Bangkok at 11:21 UTC on a flight to Delhi, India. Clearance for a straight-in ILS approach to Delhi runway 28 was given at 14:43 UTC. Shortly after reporting 23DME, the aircraft struck the banks of River Yamuna. The first officer was Pilot Flying during the approach to Delhi. PROBABLE CAUSE: Japanese investigators claimed a false glide path signal to be responsible for the descent into terrain. Indian investigators say the accident was caused by a total disregard of laid down procedures by the crew and abandoning all instrument indications without properly ensuring sighting of the runway.
Primary Cause
False glide path signal to cause descent into terrain.False glide path signal to cause descent into terrain.Share on:
