What happened
Shortly after departing from the intersection of runways 27 and 33, the aircraft experienced a period of instability. An eyewitness, the captain of another aircraft positioned at the start of runway 27, observed that while the initial takeoff appeared normal, the plane swung to the left at an altitude of approximately 10 to 15 feet. The aircraft then climbed steeply on a straight path, surpassing the end of the runway and reaching an altitude between 100 and 150 feet.
Following this climb, the aircraft performed a sharp left turn, lost altitude, and impacted a field located 4,000 feet from the runway. The accident resulted in 13 fatalities, including all 10 passengers and three crew members, with only one individual surviving the impact.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the port engine suffered a temporary loss of power immediately after takeoff, which caused the initial leftward swing. Although the engine power eventually stabilized, a false fire warning for the starboard engine prompted an attempt at a forced landing.
Several contributing factors were identified by the Calcutta High Court, including defective supervision and maintenance checks regarding the engine failure and the erroneous fire warning. The crew failed to follow standard emergency procedures, such as reducing throttle and continuing straight ahead to land on the available runway. Additionally, the decision to attempt a turn with the undercarriage still extended contributed to the loss of altitude. It was also noted that a lack of recent intensive emergency procedure training may have impacted the pilot's ability to manage the situation effectively.