What happened
On 7 February 1966, near midday, a Fokker F-27 (registration PH-SAB) crashed while performing a scheduled charter service for Indian Airlines Corporation. The aircraft, operated by Schreiner Airways, was traveling from Srinagar with planned stops in Jammu and Amritsar.
During the flight, the aircraft drifted approximately 12 miles west of its intended path over the Banihal Pass. The plane struck a hilltop within the Pir Panjal range at an elevation of 12,364 feet. The impact resulted in the deaths of all 33 passengers and the entire crew, and the airframe was completely destroyed.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the accident was the result of a navigative error. While there was initial speculation regarding whether the pilot attempted to take an unauthorized shortcut, investigators determined the deviation was unintentional.
Evidence suggests that while flying through clouds with limited visibility, the pilot likely misidentified a section of the mountain range as the Banihal Pass. This led to an incorrect heading being maintained after departing the airfield. The investigation noted that the pilot failed to utilize available navigational aids, such as the Automatic Direction Finding facility at Srinagar, to verify the aircraft's position during the period of deteriorating visibility.