1994 Indira Gandhi Airport collision

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1994 Indira Gandhi International Airport collision
Accident
Date8 March 1994
SummaryLoss of control after takeoff due to pilot error during a simulated engine failure
SiteNear Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport, India
Total fatalities9
Total injuries4
First aircraft

The 737-200 involved in 1987, while operating for Busy Bee
TypeBoeing 737-200
OperatorSahara India Airlines
Call signVICTOR INDIA ALPHA
RegistrationVT-SIA
Flight originDelhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport, India
DestinationDelhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport, India
Occupants4
Passengers0
Crew4
Fatalities4
Survivors0
Second aircraft

An Aeroflot Il-86 similar to the one involved
TypeIlyushin Il-86
OperatorAeroflot
IATA flight No.SU558
ICAO flight No.AFL558
Call signAEROFLOT 558
RegistrationRA-86119
Flight originChangi Airport, Singapore
StopoverDelhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport, India
DestinationSheremetyevo International Airport, Moscow
Occupants4
Passengers0
Crew4
Fatalities4
Survivors0
Ground casualties
Ground fatalities1
Ground injuries4

On 8 March 1994, a Sahara India Airlines Boeing 737 crashed shortly after takeoff. The plane slammed into an Aeroflot Ilyushin Il-86, which led to both aircraft being destroyed. All 8 crew members on both planes were killed, along with one person on the ground. There were no passengers on either aircraft during the crash. The cause of the crash was determined to be pilot error.[1][2]

Aircraft[edit]

The aircraft was manufactured for Busy Bee in 1979. It had also made its first flight on April 25, 1979. The aircraft was sold to Sahara India Airlines in October 1993. The aircraft was almost 15 years old at the time of the accident. It was equipped with 2 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17 engines.[1]

Flight crew[edit]

The flight crew consisted of a flight instructor and three trainee pilots. [1]

Accident[edit]

On Tuesday, March 8, 1994, the Boeing 737-200 took off from Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport, India. At the time of the accident, the Boeing 737-200 had completed five normal training exercises and landings. However, during the sixth training exercise, the aircraft climbed to 400–500 feet (120–150 m) when it banked left and crashed at the International Terminal Apron. The wreckage of aircraft hit an Aeroflot Ilyushin Il-86 aircraft, Flight 558, parked on Bay No. 45 as a result of which it also caught fire. All 4 crew members were killed, as well as all 4 crew members inside the Aeroflot Ilyushin Il-86 aircraft. Additionally, an employee of an airport oil company was killed when the plane impacted the tarmac.[1]

Investigation[edit]

An investigation by the India Commercial Pilot Association (ICPA) revealed that the accident occurred due to application of wrong rudder by a trainee pilot during engine failure exercise. The flight instructor did not guard or block the rudder control and give clear commands during his role to avoid the application of wrong rudder control by the trainee pilot.[1]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 June 2020.
  2. ^ Sabharwal, Y.K. "Accident to Sahara India Airlines B-737-200 Aircraft During the Training Flight on 8.3.1994 at IGI Airport, Delhi". Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Civil Aviation. Retrieved 5 August 2020.