41 Years ago today: On 4 August 1979 an Indian Airlines Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. HAL-748-224 Srs. 2 crashed near Panvel killing all 47 occupants.
| Date: | Saturday 4 August 1979 |
| Time: | 20:16 |
| Type: | Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. HAL-748-224 Srs. 2 |
| Operator: | Indian Airlines |
| Registration: | VT-DXJ |
| C/n / msn: | 515 |
| First flight: | 1968 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 40 / Occupants: 40 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 45 / Occupants: 45 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | near Panvel ( |
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Pune-Lohegaon Airport (PNQ/VAPO), India |
| Destination airport: | Bombay-Santacruz Airport (BOM/VABB), India |
Narrative:
The Indian Airlines HAL-748 was operating a scheduled round trip between Bombay and Pune, India. After take-off from Pune, the aircraft established contact with Bombay Radar and transmitted its ETA Bombay. However, the aircraft crashed in the Kiroli Hills about 11 km east of Bombay.
The aircraft was destroyed due to impact and post-impact fire. All persons on board were killed. The accident occurred during night and it was raining at that time
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: Combination of the following factors:
(1) Momentary/intermittent loss of electrical contact in G/S system of aircraft which gave the pilot an erroneous impression of the interception of the glide slope;
(2) Failure of the pilot to discharge his obligations under DOC 4444 by failing to use the glidepath facility only after the Outer Marker and also in descending below 2910 feet without first cross-checking over the Outer Marker;
(3) Failure of the radar controller to discharge his obligations under DOC 4444 of giving position information to the aircraft from time to time, use of incorrect and/or non-standard phraseology and also failure to inform the aircraft about the loss of radar contact.
