Overview
The aircraft departed Bangalore at 0645 hrs IST for a routine flight to Madras. The flight was uneventful until arrival. At 0728 hrs IST, Madras Control Tower cleared the aircraft to land.
Landing and Incident
The aircraft touched down on its belly at a distance of 2,140 feet from the beginning of runway 07. It slid on its belly for approximately 1,500 feet before coming to rest slightly to the right of the runway centerline. Just before stopping, the port wing tip and port engine propeller blades made contact with the runway.
Evacuation
After the aircraft came to a stop, the rear passenger door was opened normally by the airhostess, and passengers evacuated through the rear door. Slight smoke was observed near the bottom center of the fuselage, but no fire occurred.
Casualties and Damage
No injuries were reported among any person on board. The aircraft was written off due to the damage sustained.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the accident occurred because the aircraft landed without the landing gear extended. This was attributed to negligent flying by the commander, who disregarded laid down operating procedures. The copilot's failure to bring deviations to the commander's attention and to verify that the gear was down was a contributory factor.