Madras – Colombo
Flight / Schedule
Madras – Colombo
Aircraft
Vickers ViscountRegistration
VT-DIH
MSN
195
Year of Manufacture
1957
Operator
Indian AirlinesDate
November 15, 1961 at 02:21 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Colombo-Ratmalana Western Province (<U+0BAE><U+0BC7><U+0BB2><U+0BCD> <U+0BAE><U+0BBE><U+0B95><U+0BBE><U+0BA3><U+0BAE><U+0BCD>)
Region
Asia • Sri Lanka
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On November 15, 1961 at 02:21 PM, Madras – Colombo experienced a crash involving Vickers Viscount, operated by Indian Airlines, with the event recorded near Colombo-Ratmalana Western Province (<U+0BAE><U+0BC7><U+0BB2><U+0BCD> <U+0BAE><U+0BBE><U+0B95><U+0BBE><U+0BA3><U+0BAE><U+0BCD>).
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
42 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 42 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.
Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 36, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. During the landing at Ratmalana Airport, Ceylon, following a scheduled flight from Madras, India, the aircraft touched down about one third down the runway and swerved off to the left with its wheels in the 'up' position. The aircraft was substantially damaged. None of the 6 crew members or 36 passengers aboard was injured. The accident took dace at 0851 hours GMT (1421LT).
Aircraft reference details include registration VT-DIH, MSN 195, year of manufacture 1957.
Fatalities
Total
0
Crew
0
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
During the landing at Ratmalana Airport, Ceylon, following a scheduled flight from Madras, India, the aircraft touched down about one third down the runway and swerved off to the left with its wheels in the 'up' position. The aircraft was substantially damaged. None of the 6 crew members or 36 passengers aboard was injured. The accident took dace at 0851 hours GMT (1421LT).
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
6
Passengers On Board
36
Estimated Survivors
42
Fatality Rate
0.0%
Known people on board: 42
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Madras – Colombo
Operator
Indian AirlinesFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Asia • Sri Lanka
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Royal Air Force - RAF
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Gulf of Mannam, off Puttalam, following the detonation of an explosive device on board. Crew fate unknown.
Royal Air Force - RAF
Avro 685 York
While taxiing for takeoff, an undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft sank on the ground and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Royal Air Force - RAF
Avro 685 York
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the engine # 3 failed. The captain elected to fly over the sea to ditch the aircraft but the York stalled, hit palms and crashed 5 km from the airport. All four crew members and 7 passengers were killed, three passengers were injured while six others were unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed.
Royal Air Force - RAF
Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings
After touchdown at RAF Negombo, the four engine aircraft started to slid. The left main gear broke off and the aircraft veered off runway to the left, lost its left wing and came to rest. All four crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd
Vickers Viscount
Indian Airlines
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
The aircraft started its take-off run and became airborne in the normal manner somewhere near the intersection of runways 27 and 33. The captain of another aircraft who had moved to the beginning of runway 27 for his turn for take off, watched the take-off of the aircraft and noticed that it became airborne normally but swung to the left when at a height of about 10 or 15 feet. It then climbed steeply on a straight course until it had well passed the end of the runway, and reached a height of about 100 to 150 feet. Thereafter it turned sharply to the left, lost height and crashed in a field located 4,000 feet from the runway. All 10 passengers and three crew members were killed. The captain Desmond Arthur James Cartner was the only survivor.