Accident Overview
An aircraft crashed on final approach to Leh after the pilot reported technical problems. The airplane lost height, struck a house, and exploded, disintegrating on impact. The accident occurred less than 2 km from the runway threshold. All 77 occupants and one person on the ground were killed.
Sequence of Events
During the final approach, the pilot informed air traffic control of technical difficulties. The aircraft then began to descend rapidly, losing altitude. It impacted a residential building, causing a massive explosion. The force of the impact caused the aircraft to break apart, scattering debris over a wide area. The accident happened in close proximity to the runway, short of the intended landing point. The pilot's report of problems came just before the loss of altitude.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was an asymmetric flaps condition. When the pilot selected flaps down, only the left wing flaps extended. The right wing flaps remained blocked at an inappropriate angle. This asymmetry is believed to have caused the aircraft to invert, leading to the loss of control and the subsequent crash.