Gilgit - Rawalpindi
Flight / Schedule
Gilgit - Rawalpindi
Aircraft
Fokker F27 FriendshipRegistration
AP-AUS
MSN
10314
Year of Manufacture
1966
Date
December 8, 1972 at 12:15 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Sialkot (Jalkot) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (<U+062E><U+06CC><U+0628><U+0631><U+067E><U+062E><U+062A><U+0648><U+0646><U+062E><U+0648><U+0627>)
Region
Asia • Pakistan
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On December 8, 1972 at 12:15 PM, Gilgit - Rawalpindi experienced a crash involving Fokker F27 Friendship, operated by Pakistan International Airlines - PIA, with the event recorded near Sialkot (Jalkot) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (<U+062E><U+06CC><U+0628><U+0631><U+067E><U+062E><U+062A><U+0648><U+0646><U+062E><U+0648><U+0627>).
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.
31 people were known to be on board, 31 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 26, passenger fatalities: 26, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The airplane departed Gilgit Airport at 1140LT bound for Rawalpindi on flight PK631. En route, while cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a snow covered mountain located near Jalkot. The wreckage was found few hours later and none of the 31 occupants survived the crash. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to low clouds and snow falls. Apparently, the crew lost his orientation and maybe started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to struck the ground.
Aircraft reference details include registration AP-AUS, MSN 10314, year of manufacture 1966.
Fatalities
Total
31
Crew
5
Passengers
26
Other
0
Crash Summary
The airplane departed Gilgit Airport at 1140LT bound for Rawalpindi on flight PK631. En route, while cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a snow covered mountain located near Jalkot. The wreckage was found few hours later and none of the 31 occupants survived the crash. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to low clouds and snow falls. Apparently, the crew lost his orientation and maybe started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to struck the ground.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
5
Passengers On Board
26
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 31
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Gilgit - Rawalpindi
Flight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Asia • Pakistan
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Royal Air Force - RAF
De Havilland DH.10 Amiens
While making a turn on short final, the aircraft impacted ground and crashed. Two crew members were killed and a third was seriously injured. Crew: F/O J. C. Belford, F/O H. B. D. Harrington, † LAC Woodall. †
Bernard M. T. Shute Leete
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Bernard M. T. Shute Leete, owner of the aircraft, pilot and member of the Royal Aero Club, departed Stag Lane near London on 15NOV1926 on a flight to Pakistan. He arrived at Karachi on 08JAN1927 and in Lahore on 15FEB1927. In Punjab, he decided to make several demonstration flights. After few manoeuvres in the vicinity of the airport, he completed a last turn to join the airport. On final approach, while flying too low, the aircraft hit power cables, stalled and crashed before coming to rest upside down. While both occupants were slightly injured, the aircraft was destroyed. Crew: Bernard M. T. Shute Leete, pilot. Passenger: Mrs. Hailey, wife of Governor of the Punjab.
Air Orient
Farman F.303
En route to Karachi, while flying near Somiani, one of the engine caught fire. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the crashed. All four occupants were slightly injured.
Air Bleu
Caudron C.440 Goéland
Crashed on landing in unknown circumstances. All three crewmen were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Indian National Airways - INA
De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Indian National Airways - INA
Percival D.3 Gull Six
Few minutes after take off from Karachi Airport, while on a positioning flight, the single engine aircraft collided with a Beechcraft E17B flying for Indian National Airways as well. Registered VT-AKJ, this second aircraft was carrying a pilot who was approaching Karachi to land on the Mauripur airfield. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located some 50 km north of Karachi. While the pilot of the Percival, B. D. Sharma, was killed, the pilot of the Beechcraft survived.
