Accident Overview
On February 2, 1998, a SAIL King Air F90 aircraft registered as VT-ELZ was involved in an accident near Bhilai Airfield. The aircraft was operating a private flight from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, to Bhilai Airfield.
Flight Details
While on a direct track to Bhilai at 76 DME from Raipur and flight level 070, the pilot insisted on further descent due to reported bad weather. Air Traffic Control at Raipur cleared the aircraft to descend to 2,700 feet on QNH of Raipur, which was below the Minimum Off-Route Altitude (MORA) and Minimum Sector Altitude (MSA).
Navigation and Weather Conditions
During the descent, navigation and communication guidance became intermittent and unreliable. Due to severe weather activities, the aircraft diverted 40 nautical miles right of the intended track. The pilot steered in an easterly direction towards the destination in darkness during the evening hours.
Collision and Aftermath
The aircraft flew into rising terrain and collided with a hill. The impact resulted in fatal injuries to all occupants and a post-accident fire. The aircraft was completely destroyed. The crash occurred 10 minutes before the estimated time of arrival.
Probable Cause
The aircraft in flight collided with rising terrain when the pilot flew below the height of the hill top during circumnavigating bad weather and attempting to reach destination by maintaining visual contact with ground. Weather, disregard to standard operating procedures and night flying were considered as contributing factors.