Bangalore - Mangalore
Flight / Schedule
Bangalore - Mangalore
Aircraft
Hindustan Aeronautics HAL-748Registration
VT-DXF
MSN
511
Year of Manufacture
1967
Operator
Indian AirlinesDate
August 18, 1981 at 03:02 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Mangalore-Bajpe Karnataka
Region
Asia • India
Coordinates
12.9546°, 74.8847°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On August 18, 1981 at 03:02 PM, Bangalore - Mangalore experienced a crash involving Hindustan Aeronautics HAL-748, operated by Indian Airlines, with the event recorded near Mangalore-Bajpe Karnataka.
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.
26 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 26 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.
Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 22, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft departed Bangalore for flight IC557 to Mangalore. After the aircraft became airborne, Mangalore weather was passed to the aircraft indicating deterioration in weather with conditions below minima. The aircraft arrived near Mangalore uneventfully and ATC informed that it was raining and the visibility was 1,000 metres. Therefore, the commander decided to hold the aircraft. A few minutes later, ATC informed that the visibility had improved to 2,000 meters and clouds were 4/8 at 700 feet. Thereafter, the aircraft was instructed to descend to 3,550 feet. Having sighted the runway, the captain turned right to position the aircraft for a left-hand downwind leg of the runway. However, ATC cautioned that the south of the runway was full of low cloud. Therefore, the aircraft took a left-hand circuit for landing. The aircraft landed almost on the middle of the runway at high speed, under adverse weather conditions. The aircraft could not be stopped within the available field length. Its nose wheel was sheared off and the aircraft continued skidding forward and nosed over into a valley beyond the airport plateau and came to stop against two huge boulders on the steep rocky terrain. The aircraft was substantially damaged. Five passengers and two cabin crew received minor injuries. There was a fire under the left-hand engine/wing which was extinguished.
Aircraft reference details include registration VT-DXF, MSN 511, year of manufacture 1967.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 12.9546°, 74.8847°.
Fatalities
Total
0
Crew
0
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The aircraft departed Bangalore for flight IC557 to Mangalore. After the aircraft became airborne, Mangalore weather was passed to the aircraft indicating deterioration in weather with conditions below minima. The aircraft arrived near Mangalore uneventfully and ATC informed that it was raining and the visibility was 1,000 metres. Therefore, the commander decided to hold the aircraft. A few minutes later, ATC informed that the visibility had improved to 2,000 meters and clouds were 4/8 at 700 feet. Thereafter, the aircraft was instructed to descend to 3,550 feet. Having sighted the runway, the captain turned right to position the aircraft for a left-hand downwind leg of the runway. However, ATC cautioned that the south of the runway was full of low cloud. Therefore, the aircraft took a left-hand circuit for landing. The aircraft landed almost on the middle of the runway at high speed, under adverse weather conditions. The aircraft could not be stopped within the available field length. Its nose wheel was sheared off and the aircraft continued skidding forward and nosed over into a valley beyond the airport plateau and came to stop against two huge boulders on the steep rocky terrain. The aircraft was substantially damaged. Five passengers and two cabin crew received minor injuries. There was a fire under the left-hand engine/wing which was extinguished.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
4
Passengers On Board
22
Estimated Survivors
26
Fatality Rate
0.0%
Known people on board: 26
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Bangalore - Mangalore
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 • India
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Wilfred Theodore Blake
Fairey III
The British Major Wilfred Theodore Blake was trying to complete one of the first World Tour. Last May, he crashed with his DH.9 in Marseille but continued with this Fairey IIIC. The airplane departed the east coast of India bound to Chittagong. While cruising off the West Bengal State, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the sea off Sagar. All three occupants were rescued and the aircraft was lost. Crew: Norman MacMillan, pilot, Wilfred Theodore Blake, copilot and navigator, Colonel L. E. Broome, photographer.
Brito Pais
Breguet 14
Both Portuguese aviators Brito Pais and Sarmento Beires departed Portugal (Vila Nova de Milfontes) on a flight to Macau with intermediate stops in Tunis, Cairo, Bushehr and Karachi. While flying over Rajasthan, the crew encountered engine problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. Both pilots escaped uninjured and continued their trip with a De Havilland DH.9.
Thomas Neville Stack
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
The aircraft was owned by Thomas Neville Stack but piloted this day by W. H. Vetch for a demo flight at Shillong. After performing several manoeuvres, the pilot started an approach but was too low when the aircraft hit power cables and crashed into the public. The pilot and four other people were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Dennis M. M. Rooke
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Dennis M. M. Rooke, pilot and owner of this aircraft named 'Marjorie', was performing a flight from England to Australia. Shortly after takeoff from Aurangabad, en route to Darwin, the aircraft hit a palm tree and crashed. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Van Lear Black
Fokker F7
The aircraft named 'Maryland Free State' departed London on a trip to Tokyo, carrying three passengers and two crew members. Upon landing at Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed. All five occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Owner of the aircraft, the American businessman Van Lear Black (also owner of the US newspaper Baltimore Sun) returned to UK by train and ordered a new aircraft to complete his trip from London to Tokyo.
George Valentin Bibescu
Ford 5
En route, the three engine airplane collided with a vulture, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all four occupants evacuated safely. The aircraft was owned by Prince George Valentin Bibescu, President of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).