1963 Viscount VT-DIO Crash Near Agra

Flight Details and Disappearance On 10 September 1963, Viscount aircraft VT-DIO departed Madras at 2240 hours Indian standard time on a scheduled domestic night air mail service to Nagpur and New Delhi. The leg to Nagpur was uneventful. A different crew took off from Nagpur at 0237 hours on 11 September. Communications difficulties began at 0258 hours. The last known message was sent at 0336 hours, when VT-DIO was reported flying normally at 16,500 ft in clear skies, with an estimated arrival at the Delhi Control boundary at 0405. The aircraft had enough fuel to remain airborne until 0950 hours. ## Crash and Aftermath At approximately 0400 hours, the aircraft crashed in a field near the village of Patti, 15 miles from Agra. The impact caused an immediate explosion and fire, killing everyone aboard. ## Official Findings The investigation could not establish the cause of the accident. Officials noted that, although little substantial evidence supported the assumption, a sudden malfunction of the auto-pilot and/or a sudden failure of electrical power may have made it impossible for the crew to retain control, causing the aircraft to lose height rapidly and crash.