1994 Sahara Airlines Boeing 737 crash
On March 8, 1994, a Sahara Airlines Boeing 737 crashed shortly after takeoff. All 4 crew members were killed, along with 5 people on the ground. The plane slammed into an Aeroflot Ilyushin 86 aircraft, destroying the aircraft. There were no passengers on either aircraft during the crash. The cause of the crash was determined to be pilot error.[1][2]
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 8 March 1994 |
| Summary | Loss of control after takeoff during a stimulated engine failure due to pilot error |
| Site | Near Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport, India |
| Total fatalities | 9 |
| Total injuries | 4 |
| First aircraft | |
.jpg.webp) The 737-200 involved in 1987, while operating for Busy Bee | |
| Type | Boeing 737-200 |
| Operator | Sahara Airlines |
| Registration | VT-SIA |
| Flight origin | Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport, India |
| Destination | Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport, India |
| Occupants | 4 |
| Passengers | 0 |
| Crew | 4 |
| Fatalities | 4 |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Second aircraft | |
 An Aeroflot Il-86 similar to the one involved | |
| Type | Ilyushin Il-86 |
| Operator | Aeroflot |
| Registration | RA-86119 |
| Flight origin | Singapore (airport unspecified) |
| Stopover | Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport, India |
| Destination | Moscow (airport unspecified) |
| Occupants | 4 |
| Passengers | 0 |
| Crew | 4 |
| Fatalities | 4 |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Ground casualties | |
| Ground fatalities | 1 |
| Ground injuries | 4 |
Aircraft
The aircraft was manufactured for Busy Bee in 1979. It had also made its first flight on April 25, 1979. The aircraft was sold to Sahara Airlines in October 1993. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was almost 15 years old. It was equipped with 2 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17 engines.[1]
Flight Crew
The flight crew consisted of a flight instructor and three trainee pilots. [1]
Accident
On Tuesday, March 8, 1994, the Boeing 737-200 took off from Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport,India. At the time of the accident, the Boeing 737-200 had completed five normal training exercises and landings. However, during the sixth training exercise, the aircraft climbed to 400-500 feet when it banked left and crashed at the International Terminal Apron. The wreckage of aircraft hit an Aeroflot Ilyushin 86 aircraft parked on Bay No. 45 as a result of which it also caught fire. All 4 crew members were killed, as well as all 4 crew members inside the Aeroflot Ilyushin 86 aircraft. Additionally, an employee of an airport oil company was killed when the plane impacted the tarmac.[1]
Investigation
Investigation by the India Commercial Pilot Association (ICPA) revealed that the accident occurred due to application of wrong rudder by a trainee pilot during engine failure exercise. The flight instructor did not guard or block the rudder control and give clear commands during his role to avoid the application of wrong rudder control by the trainee pilot.[1]
References
- Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 21 June 2020.
- Sabharwal, Y.K. "Accident to Sahara India Airlines B-737-200 Aircraft During the Training Flight on 8.3.1994 at IGI Airport, Delhi". Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Civil Aviation. Retrieved 5 August 2020.