Remote Sensing Aircraft Crashes Near Bombay (VT-EQM)

Accident Overview

An aircraft operated by the National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad, crashed while on a ferry flight from Ahmedabad to Bombay. The flight carried four occupants, including the pilot-in-command. During the approach to Bombay, the aircraft reported its flight level as 4,000 feet before losing contact with air traffic control. The wreckage was found on hilltops near Taloja village, approximately 11 nautical miles east of Bombay airports. All four occupants sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was completely destroyed.

Probable Cause

The investigation attributed the probable cause of the accident to three factors:

• The commander, who had limited flying experience on the aircraft type and restricted instrument flying hours, encountered instrument meteorological conditions and descended below the ATC-cleared altitude of 3,700 feet without intercepting the glide slope.
• The radar controller failed to effectively monitor the aircraft’s position after advising it to intercept the localizer, a factor that contributed to the accident.
• The pilot did not follow established procedures, regulations, and instructions.