Freighter Crash Near Guwahati During Final Approach (VT-COZ)

Flight Details and Approach Sequence The aircraft departed Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport at 0546 hours Indian Standard Time on a scheduled freighter service to Guwahati, carrying a crew of three. At 0722 hours, it contacted Guwahati Air Traffic Control by radio telephony, reporting visual flight rules, 25 miles from Guwahati Airport, and at 6,000 feet. The controller passed the altimeter setting, cleared the aircraft to descend under VFR, and instructed it to call when ten miles from the airport. At 0725 hours, the aircraft requested a bearing on frequency 119.7 (Homer). A bearing of 045° class 'A' was provided and confirmed correct by the aircraft, which also reported being 15 miles from the airport at 3,000 feet. The next contact with Guwahati Tower occurred at 0727 hours, when the aircraft reported being 10 miles from the airport. Landing instructions were issued, and the aircraft was asked to call again on joining the circuit. No further communication was received. ## Crash and Aftermath At approximately 0729 hours, the tower duty officer observed black smoke above a patch of fog south of the airport. Repeated calls were made on 118.1 Mc/S and 6,440 Kc/S, but no response was received. Around the same time, residents of Tarapati village reported seeing the aircraft strike arecanut trees, crash in a field, and burst into flames. The captain and copilot died instantly, and the radio officer died en route to the hospital. The aircraft was destroyed.