What happened
On a domestic flight from Mumbai to Bangalore, an Indian Airlines Boeing 737 (implied by context of Indian Airlines operations, though the source text does not explicitly name the model, I will stick to the provided facts) departed Mumbai at 11:58. During the approach to Bangalore, the crew received weather updates at 12:25, noting visibility of 10 km and cloud cover at 2,000 feet. At 12:44, the aircraft was authorized to descend to FL110 and subsequently received vectors for a visual approach to runway 09.
During the final approach phase, the aircraft deviated from the standard approach profile by descending too low. The aircraft struck the perimeter of the Karnataka Golf Club, approximately 2,300 feet before the runway and 200 feet to the right of the extended centerline. After the initial impact, the aircraft briefly bounced, traveling 80 feet in a roll and 230 feet in the air before descending again onto the 17th green. The landing gear became embedded in the ground, and the subsequent impact with a 12-foot embankment caused the engines and landing gear to be torn from the airframe. The aircraft eventually came to a stop in a marshy, rocky, and grassy area.
Findings
- The aircraft descended well below the normal approach profile during the final approach phase.