What happened
A scheduled domestic service departing from Amritsar for Srinagar departed at 11:15 local time with a total of 29 persons on board. Approximately seven minutes after takeoff, the aircraft reported its position at a distance of 25 miles from Amritsar. Following this transmission, all communication with the flight ceased.
Shortly after 12:00, reports arrived via telephone indicating that the Hiper Dakota had impacted a field in the vicinity of the Sarna railway station, located roughly five miles west of Pathankot. The accident occurred at a location where the flight path required a 70-degree left turn to maintain its intended route to Srinagar. According to witnesses, the aircraft executed a left turn but subsequently lost control and experienced a rapid descent. During this sequence, the plane entered a climbing attitude and suffered a structural breakup before hitting the ground and igniting.
Findings
Investigations determined that the crash was the result of structural failure occurring mid-air due to overstressing after the aircraft lost control. The loss of control originated from the improper rigging of the rudder bungee system, which is designed to prevent the rudder on this specific model from locking or reversing during yawed turns or severe side gusts. Additionally, investigators noted that a malfunction or incorrect use of the autopilot may have triggered an initial yaw, which exacerbated the tendency for the rudder to lock.