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6 fatalities

Pilot Navigation Error Results in Crash Near Saku (VT-DGP)

Saku, IndiaFlight

On August 3, 1959, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration VT-DGP) operated by Kalinga Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Saku, India in flight. 6 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was attributed to an error of navigation on the part of the pilot. He entered a wrong valley and without proper assessment of the performance of his fully-loaded aircraft in the space available attempted to make a steep insufficient to effect a… 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 pilot error in navigation led to a crash near Saku, killing all six occupants. The pilot entered a wrong valley and attempted a steep maneuver without proper performance assessment, resulting in a stall.

Accident Details

Eleven minutes after departing Mohanbari-Dibrugarh Airport, the pilot reported the aircraft's position to air traffic control. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft struck a mountain and crashed near the locality of Saku. The impact destroyed the aircraft, and all six occupants on board died.

Investigation Findings

Official investigation findings attributed the accident to an error of navigation by the pilot. The pilot entered a wrong valley and, without properly assessing the performance of the fully-loaded aircraft given the available space, attempted to execute a steep maneuver. This maneuver was insufficient to recover from a stall, leading to the crash.

Probable cause

The accident was attributed to an error of navigation on the part of the pilot. He entered a wrong valley and without proper assessment of the performance of his fully-loaded aircraft in the space available attempted to make a steep insufficient to effect a recovery from the stall.

Related events

Same operator

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