Incident Details
On a local training flight at New Delhi-Indira Gandhi Airport, an Air Sahara (Sahara Airlines) Boeing 737-2R4C, registered VT-SIA, was conducting circuits with one instructor and three trainee pilots aboard. After five uneventful circuits and landings, the aircraft performed a sixth touch-and-go exercise on runway 28. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft banked left and crashed into the international apron, colliding with an Aeroflot Ilyushin Il-86 (registration RA-86119) that was parked at bay number 45. Both aircraft were destroyed by fire. The accident resulted in the deaths of all four occupants on the Boeing 737, four people on the Il-86, and one individual on the ground.
Aircraft and Crew
The Boeing 737-2R4C (VT-SIA) was operated by Air Sahara. The flight crew consisted of one instructor and three trainee pilots. The Aeroflot Il-86 (RA-86119) was parked at the time of the collision; four people were on board, and one person was on the ground near the aircraft.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause: loss of control after rotation due to application of wrong rudder by the trainee pilot during an engine failure exercise. The instructor did not guard or block the rudder control and failed to give clear commands as an instructor to prevent the application of incorrect rudder input by the trainee pilot.