History of the Flight
On 3 January 2020, routine training flights were conducted at Dhana Aerodrome by Chimes Aviation Academy. The aircraft VT-CAF, a Cessna 172 R, was scheduled for three flights that day, all with the same flight instructor. The first two flights were instrument flying cross-country missions, completed without incident. The third flight was a 120 NM night cross-country training flight from Dhana to Mahoba and return, with a student pilot on board.
At approximately 1315 UTC, visibility began to decrease, and all solo flights were canceled. However, dual-pilot flights with an instructor were permitted under the academy's procedures. The instructor requested startup permission around 1320 UTC and the aircraft departed at 1330 UTC.
The flight proceeded outbound to Mahoba, with the crew reporting positions at regular intervals. On the return leg, visibility continued to drop. At 32 NM inbound, ATC advised the crew to expedite arrival. When the aircraft was 10 NM from Dhana, ATC informed the crew that diversion to Bhopal might be necessary due to low visibility.
Injuries and Damage
Both occupants—the flight instructor (a CPL holder) and the student pilot (an SPL holder)—sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by impact. The nose section, engine, and firewall were severely damaged; the nose landing gear separated. Both wings sustained damage, with the left wing sheared by a tree. The fuselage and tail cone were crushed and buckled.
Personnel and Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 172 R of Indian nationality, registered VT-CAF, owned and operated by M/s Chimes Aviation Academy. The flight instructor had over 4000 hours of flying experience and valid ratings. The student pilot had 177:50 hours of experience and was qualified for the flight. Breathalyzer tests were conducted on both crew members before the flight, as per regulations.
Weather and Communications
At departure, visibility was below 5 km. As night progressed, fog reduced visibility further. ATC at Dhana observed decreasing visibility and advised the aircraft to consider diverting to Bhopal, where visibility was reported as 2000 m. Despite this, the instructor attempted an approach for Runway 35. The aircraft was seen flying along the left edge of the runway at about 300 feet before executing a missed approach. ATC again recommended diversion, but the instructor stated he would attempt an approach for Runway 17. No further contact was established.
Accident Location and Impact
The aircraft crashed east of the Dhana Aerodrome runway, outside the aerodrome periphery. The impact occurred during the landing approach phase. The wreckage was located by emergency services after the crew was seen rushing out. The exact coordinates of the accident site were recorded by the investigation.
Probable Cause
The accident was a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) during a landing approach in poor visibility, with non-adherence to standard operating procedures as a contributing factor.