Investigation Summary
The aircraft, a former USAAF C-48C originally built for Pan Am in 1941 (MSN 4175), was scheduled for a night flight from Karachi to Bombay. It previously held the civilian registration NC30006 and the USAAF tail number 42-38336 before being sold to Air India. Pre-flight preparations were interrupted by electrical issues. The captain initially summoned a mechanic to address a failure in the instrument lighting, which was temporarily resolved by replacing fuses. However, a second issue arose when one of the two landing lights failed to operate. During these ground checks, the captain reportedly noted a burning smell, yet he decided to continue the mission using only the single functioning landing light. Weather conditions at the time were challenging, with a gusty west wind of 10-15 knots, dust haze, and horizontal visibility of approximately 1,100 yards, while vertical and oblique visibility were reported as bad. The investigation determined that the aircraft crashed while the engines were still under power, impacting the terrain at a 30-degree angle. The loss of control was attributed to a combination of recurring instrument failures and the pilot's decision to fly into dark, low-visibility conditions with known technical deficiencies. Notably, the airframe had a documented history of frequent electrical trouble, including numerous fuse, bulb, and instrument replacements prior to the accident flight.
Final Conclusions
The crash was caused by a loss of control during night flight in poor visibility, precipitated by instrument failure. Investigators concluded that the captain exercised poor judgment by initiating the flight despite recurring technical problems and the presence of a burning smell in the cockpit.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Instrument Lighting
The cockpit lighting system suffered a fuse failure before takeoff, which was a precursor to the total instrument failure suspected during the flight.
Landing Lights
One of the two landing lights was inoperative at departure, reducing the pilot's visual aids during the night operation.
Interesting Facts
- 01This was the first documented plane crash of an Indian flight.
- 02The aircraft hit the ground while in a violent side slip to starboard.
- 03The pilot had been warned of electrical issues, including a burning smell, prior to takeoff.
- 04All 19 passengers and 4 crew members perished in the accident.
- 05The aircraft (MSN 4175) was manufactured in 1941 and had a history of frequent electrical component replacements.
- 06Weather at the time included a dust haze and horizontal visibility of only 1,100 yards.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Pilot Decision Making and Technical Serviceability
The investigation emphasized that the captain was seriously at fault for deciding to take off for a night flight in bad visibility after instrument panel lighting had proved unserviceable and before a thorough check could be made. This highlighted the need for stricter adherence to 'no-go' criteria regarding cockpit instrumentation.