Aircraft crash near New Delhi-Palam Airport

18 fatalities • New Delhi-Palam, India • Takeoff (climb)

An aircraft crashed shortly after departing from New Delhi-Palam Airport, resulting in the deaths of all 18 people on board.

What happened

During a departure from runway 09 at New Delhi-Palam Airport, an aircraft entered a climb that reached approximately 500 feet. During this initial ascent phase, the co-pilot initiated a sharp turn to the right. This maneuver caused the aircraft to enter a stall, leading to a crash in an empty area situated roughly 2 km southeast of the airport. The impact and subsequent fire destroyed the plane. There were 18 fatalities among the occupants.

Findings

Investigations determined that the accident was triggered by a judgment error made by the supernumerary pilot acting as first officer. While performing the steep right-hand turn, the pilot was unable to recover from the high bank angle due to the low altitude of the flight. Additionally, the pilot's lack of familiarity with this specific aircraft type was identified as an indirect contributing factor to the event.

Probable cause

A mistake in judgment by the acting first officer during a steep turn at low altitude led to an unrecoverable stall.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1953-05-09 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near New Delhi-Palam, India?

An aircraft crashed shortly after departing from New Delhi-Palam Airport, resulting in the deaths of all 18 people on board.

Were there any fatalities in the 1953-05-09 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 18 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1953-05-09 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration VT-AUD, operated by Air India, at New Delhi-Palam, India.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

A mistake in judgment by the acting first officer during a steep turn at low altitude led to an unrecoverable stall.

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