Aircraft crash near Saku following mountain impact

6 fatalities • Saku, India • Flight

An aircraft crashed into a mountain near Saku shortly after departing Mohanbari-Dibrugarh Airport, resulting in the deaths of all six people on board.

What happened

Shortly after taking off from Mohanbari-Dibrugarh Airport, the pilot contacted air traffic control to provide a position update. This communication occurred approximately eleven minutes into the flight. Not long after this report, the aircraft collided with a mountain in the vicinity of Saku.

The impact caused the total destruction of the plane. There were no survivors among the six fatalities recorded during the accident.

Findings

Investigations concluded that the crash was the result of a navigational error by the pilot. The flight crew inadvertently entered an incorrect valley. While attempting to maneuver within the limited space available, the pilot attempted a steep turn that the heavily loaded aircraft could not sustain. This maneuver led to an aerodynamic stall from which the plane could not recover.

Probable cause

The pilot's navigational error led him into a narrow valley where an attempt to execute a steep turn resulted in an unrecoverable stall.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1959-08-03 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Saku, India?

An aircraft crashed into a mountain near Saku shortly after departing Mohanbari-Dibrugarh Airport, resulting in the deaths of all six people on board.

Were there any fatalities in the 1959-08-03 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 6 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1959-08-03 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration VT-DGP, operated by Kalinga Airlines, at Saku, India.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's navigational error led him into a narrow valley where an attempt to execute a steep turn resulted in an unrecoverable stall.

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