What happened
During the early stages of flight from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, the aircraft experienced a mechanical failure involving the port engine. As the plane was performing its initial climb, the malfunction caused the aircraft to pitch upward significantly. This maneuver led to a loss of airspeed and an eventual aerodynamic stall. The aircraft subsequently descended into a coconut grove situated approximately one kilometer from the airport perimeter.
The accident resulted in five fatalities, including all three crew members and two passengers. Additionally, six individuals sustained injuries during the impact. The aircraft was completely destroyed upon crashing.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several contributing factors related to the crew's response to the engine failure. A primary factor was the delayed feathering of the propeller following the port engine malfunction, which was attributed to the pilot's lack of familiarity with emergency protocols.
Furthermore, the flight crew attempted to maintain a climb to clear nearby obstacles while maintaining a nose-high attitude. This attempt was conducted at a speed below the recommended rate of climb for single-engine operations, with both the landing gear and flaps retracted. This sequence led to a progressive reduction in airspeed, culminating in the stall that caused the impact with a coconut tree. While heavy smoke was observed coming from the port engine, the specific origin of the engine failure could not be determined.