New Delhi – Karachi

On May 15, 1958 at 08:18 PM, New Delhi – Karachi experienced a crash involving Convair CV-240, operated by Pakistan International Airlines - PIA, with the event recorded near New Delhi-Palam National Capital Territory of Delhi.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

38 people were known to be on board, 23 fatalities were recorded, 15 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 60.5%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 32, passenger fatalities: 17, other fatalities: 2.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft had landed at Palam at 1902 hours following an uneventful flight from Karachi. A thorough service check was carried out, and it was refuelled and loaded for the return flight to Karachi. The total take-off weight indicated on the load sheet was 41 589 lbs. The investigation revealed an error in the empty weight of the aircraft and the actual gross take-off weight was determined to be 41 319 lbs, which is 1 181 lbs less than the maximum permissible all-up weight. At 2018 hours the aircraft commenced its take-off run and was airborne at the latter half of the runway. Soon afterwards flames were observed at the western boundary of the airfield. The crash crew chief had watched the aircraft take-off. He saw the aircraft becoming airborne and then climbing to a height estimated by him to be 50 ft. He then noticed the landing lights pointing downwards and the aircraft losing height. He feared that a crash was imminent and immediately instructed the crew to proceed in that direction. At about this time the crash siren was sounded. The crash tender reached the site of the accident in about 7 to 8 minutes by which time the fire had reached large proportions. Fatal injuries were sustained by 4 members of the crew, 17 passengers and 2 others who were in the vicinity of the crash. Nine passengers and one other were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire.

Aircraft reference details include registration AP-AEH, MSN 52, year of manufacture 1949.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 28.5956°, 77.0809°.