What happened
During the initial climb phase following departure from Bhopal Airport, the flight crew initiated the process of retracting the landing gear. After the captain instructed the copilot to raise the gear, the aircraft's airspeed dropped below the minimum control speed required for safe flight. As the plane began losing altitude, the captain issued a command to lower the landing gear back into position.
However, the aircraft impacted the ground before the landing gear could reach its fully extended and locked state. The incident resulted in a crash landing at the site. Although the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss, there were no casualties among the passengers or crew. All 10 occupants managed to exit the wreckage without any reported injuries.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating at a speed below the minimum control threshold during the climb.
- The premature retraction of the landing gear contributed to the loss of airspeed and subsequent descent.