9 fatalities

Cargo Aircraft Crashes in Nagaland Valley After Stall During Turn (VT-DFZ)

Loheshyphu, IndiaFlight

On July 16, 1962, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration VT-DFZ) operated by Kalinga Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Loheshyphu, India in flight. 9 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control caused by the stall of the fully loaded aircraft while turning in a narrow valley. Poor judgment on part of the flying crew. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A cargo aircraft on a supply mission crashed in a narrow valley after stalling during a sharp turn in poor visibility. All nine occupants were killed and the aircraft destroyed.

Background

The aircraft departed from Jorhat-Rowriah Airport on a cargo (supply) mission over the State of Nagaland.

Accident

En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the airplane entered a narrow valley in low visibility. The pilot realized the situation and attempted a sharp turn to return. During the turn, the airplane stalled, struck the ground, and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed.

Probable Cause

According to official findings, the probable cause of the accident was loss of control caused by the stall of the fully loaded aircraft while turning in a narrow valley, attributed to poor judgment on the part of the flying crew.