Background
On 19 October 1988, Indian Airlines Flight IC113, a Boeing 737 registered VT-EAH, operated a scheduled service from Bombay to Ahmedabad. The aircraft carried 135 occupants, including 6 crew members.
Accident Sequence
The flight contacted Ahmedabad Approach Control at 0620 LT. Weather information from the 0540 LT METAR was transmitted to the crew, followed by a 0610 LT SPECI at 0625 LT indicating visibility had reduced from 6 km to 3 km. At 0632 LT, the aircraft received clearance to descend to FL150, and at 0636 LT was cleared to FL55 at 25 DME. At 0641 LT, the crew were advised to report over Ahmedabad VOR, and the 0640 LT SPECI was passed, showing calm winds, visibility 2 km in haze, and QNH 1010, which was correctly read back.
The pilot-in-command decided to conduct a localizer-DME approach for runway 23. The aircraft reported overhead Ahmedabad, went outbound, and then reported turning inbound. This was the last transmission; contact was lost at 0650:53.
Wreckage
The aircraft was found crashed in a paddy field 2,540 meters from the beginning of runway 23 on the extended centerline. The estimated time of impact was 0653 LT. Of the 135 persons on board, 133 received fatal injuries; the remaining two were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed by post-impact fire.
Probable Cause
The official investigation attributed the cause to error on the part of the pilot-in-command and copilot due to non-adherence to laid-down procedures under poor visibility conditions. Both pilots failed to follow approved procedures, directives, and instructions. Weather was considered a contributing factor.