What happened
During an ascent following departure from Silchar-Kumbhirgram Airport, an aircraft struck a mountain located approximately 19 km northeast of the airfield. At an altitude of roughly 5,600 feet, the flight crew attempted a right-hand turn while operating within heavy cloud cover and rain. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate upon hitting the terrain. There were no survivors among the 39 fatalities recorded on the flight.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the pilot failed to adhere to the established departure procedures. Specifically, the crew did not follow the prescribed route intended to maintain safe separation from terrain. The pilot had also neglected to review the meteorological forecast provided by the previous commander at Silchar Airport. The situation was worsened when the pilot executed a turn to the right before reaching the necessary minimum sector altitude, which led to insufficient terrain clearance and the subsequent collision.