Accident Overview
On 15 February 1966, Indian Airlines Corporation flight, a Caravelle aircraft registered as VT-DPP, was operating a scheduled domestic passenger service from Calcutta Airport to Palam Airport. While attempting to land at Palam under conditions of poor visibility due to fog, the aircraft undershot the runway. It struck a cement pillar and subsequently several other obstructions before coming to rest on its belly near the threshold of the runway in use.
Evacuation and Fire
A fire broke out as a result of the earlier impact with obstructions. All crew and passengers were able to evacuate the aircraft before it was consumed by the fire.
Injuries and Damage
Some passengers received injuries and burns of varying degrees. Two passengers succumbed to their injuries subsequently. The aircraft was completely destroyed.
Probable Cause
The Government of India accepted that the aircraft undershot and crashed as a result of the abandonment of the ILS approach at too early a stage during an attempt to land under conditions of poor visibility in fog. Contributory causes were identified as: (i) lack of information with the pilot regarding the true conditions of surface visibility, which was in fact below the minimum prescribed for a night landing by Caravelle aircraft on runway 28 at Palam; (ii) lack of proper monitoring and possibly incorrect setting of altimeter(s) during the approach to land; and (iii) the use of landing lights which resulted in glare during the final stages of the approach in foggy conditions.