On July 3, 1973, a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle (registration VT-DPO) operated by Indian Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Mumbai-Chhatrapati Shivaji (Santa Cruz), India during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The copilot, who was pilot-in-command, adopted a wrong approach configuration, causing the aircraft to land nose first at a too high speed. A lack of supervision on the part of the captain was also considered. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
On final approach to Bombay-Santa Cruz Airport, an aircraft landed nose-first at excessive speed, collapsing the nose gear. A fire erupted, but all 15 occupants escaped uninjured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Accident Details
On final approach to Bombay-Santa Cruz Airport, the aircraft assumed a nose-down attitude and touched down nose-first at an excessive speed. Upon impact, the nose gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to slide on its nose until it stopped on the runway. A fire ignited in the nose gear bay. All 15 occupants evacuated without injury. The aircraft sustained damage beyond economical repair.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the copilot was the pilot-in-command at the time of the accident. The probable cause was that the copilot adopted a wrong approach configuration, which resulted in the aircraft landing nose-first at too high a speed. Additionally, a lack of supervision on the part of the captain was considered as a contributing factor.
What happened in the 3 Jul 1973 Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle accident near Mumbai-Chhatrapati Shivaji (Santa Cruz), India?
On final approach to Bombay-Santa Cruz Airport, an aircraft landed nose-first at excessive speed, collapsing the nose gear. A fire erupted, but all 15 occupants escaped uninjured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Were there any fatalities in the 3 Jul 1973 Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 3 Jul 1973 involved a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle, registration VT-DPO, operated by Indian Airlines, at Mumbai-Chhatrapati Shivaji (Santa Cruz), India.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The copilot, who was pilot-in-command, adopted a wrong approach configuration, causing the aircraft to land nose first at a too high speed. A lack of supervision on the part of the captain was also considered.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…