What happened
On 2 Or September 2020, a Trinidad TB20 aircraft, registration VT-IGE, operated by Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy, was performing a solo cross-country training mission. The flight departed from Fursatganj airport with the intention of flying a route over Mau and returning to Fursatganj.
After takeoff, the trainee pilot communicated with air traffic control in Lucknow and Varanasi, requesting a climb to 5,500 feet. While en route, radar observations showed the aircraft's altitude fluctuating between 6,000 and 5,200 feet, signaling the onset of turbulent conditions. Shortly thereafter, all radio and radar contact with the aircraft was lost near Varanasi. The aircraft subsequently crashed in an agricultural field in the Azamgarh district. The wreckage was found scattered across a 5-kilometer radius, indicating the aircraft had broken apart in mid-air. The trainee pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
AAIB India investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records, weather reports, and air traffic control communications. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft and its engine were fully compliant with all airworthiness directives and maintenance schedules. There were no pending mechanical issues or snags reported prior to the flight.
Investigators also reviewed the meteorological data for the region. While the weather at the time of departure was favorable, radar imagery confirmed that a thunderstorm was rapidly developing along the flight path. The investigation also noted that other trainee pilots operating in the same area had observed developing weather and successfully returned to base, whereas the crew of VT-IGE encountered the storm directly.
Findings
- The aircraft encountered a sudden thunderstorm with severe wind shear, which caused the aircraft to lose control and undergo structural disintegration.
- The rapid development of the weather left the pilot with no opportunity to perform corrective maneuvers or declare an emergency.
- There was a lack of continuous, real-time weather monitoring at the flying training organization, which relied on morning briefings that did not account for the mid-flight deterioration of conditions.
- Air traffic control communications during the event were noted to have been handled by a planning controller in a manner that deviated from standard operating procedures.
Safety action
- It is recommended that the DGCA establish specific guidelines for flying training organizations to ensure continuous monitoring of weather trends and immediate communication of hazards to pilots.
- A recommendation was made for all training organizations to implement more robust supervision systems for training sorties.
- The investigation highlighted the need for air traffic controllers to strictly adhere to established protocols regarding radio communications.