Accident Details
On 22 December 2015, a Beechcraft Super King Air B-200 aircraft, registration VT-BSA, operated by the BSF Air Wing, crashed during departure from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. The flight was destined for Ranchi. All ten persons on board, including two flight crew and eight passengers, sustained fatal injuries due to impact and fire.
Flight and Crew
The flight was commanded by a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) holder, with another CPL holder serving as Second-in-Command. The mission involved transporting technical personnel tasked with scheduled maintenance of a Mi-17 helicopter at Ranchi. The aircraft was loaded with eight passengers, 20 kg of baggage, and maintenance tools. The actual take-off weight was 5668.85 kg, just under the maximum of 5669.9 kg, with 1085 kg of fuel.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft was removed from the hangar at 0655 hrs. Passengers arrived around 0745 hrs. At 0915 hrs, the crew contacted ATC Delhi for clearance to Ranchi via route R460 at flight level 210, with runway 28 in use. After door closure at 0918 hrs and checklist completion, the aircraft taxied but paused for approximately six to seven minutes due to administrative reasons. Take-off clearance was subsequently granted. Weather conditions included visibility of 800 meters and wind from 100° at 3 knots.
Shortly after lift-off, at about 400 feet above ground level, the aircraft began a progressive left turn with simultaneous loss of altitude. It completed approximately 180° of turn before impacting trees, the airport perimeter road, and the outer boundary wall. The wings struck two trees before the aircraft hit a water treatment plant holding tank. The tail and part of the fuselage overturned into the tank, while the forward section, outside the tank, was destroyed by post-impact fire. All occupants received fatal injuries. The emergency locator transmitter (ELT) activated at 0410 UTC (0940 IST). Eight bodies were recovered from the holding tank; the pilots' bodies were found in the severely burnt cockpit adjacent to the tank.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the accident was caused by the engagement of the autopilot without selecting the heading mode by the flight crew immediately after liftoff, before attaining sufficient height, in poor foggy conditions. The crew failed to take corrective action to control the progressive increase in left bank, allowing the aircraft to traverse a 180° turn and lose altitude in a steep left bank attitude, leading to impact with terrain.