Status:	Final
Date:	15 MAY 1958
Time:	20:18
Type:	Convair CV-240-7
Operator:	Pakistan International Airlines - PIA
Registration:	AP-AEH
C/n / msn:	52
First flight:	1948
Total airframe hrs:	12668
Crew:	Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 6
Passengers:	Fatalities: 17 / Occupants: 32
Total:	Fatalities: 21 / Occupants: 38
Ground casualties:	Fatalities: 2
Airplane damage:	Written off
Airplane fate:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	Delhi-Palam Airport (DEL) (India)
Phase:	Initial climb (ICL)
Nature:	International Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:	Delhi-Palam Airport (DEL/VIDP), India
Destination airport:	Karachi International Airport (KHI/OPKC), Pakistan
Flightnumber:	205

Narrative:
The PIA Convair CV-240 aircraft had landed at Delhi-Palam at 19:02 hours following an uneventful flight from Karachi. It was prepared for the return flight and taxied to runway 27 for departure. It was a moonless night and the visibility was almost 3 km due to dust haze. Takeoff was away from the built up area so there were no visual reference points and there was nothing which could have given the pilot a natural horizon. Takeoff was commenced at 20:18. Shortly after becoming airborne the landing gear was raised. Then the airplane began to descend again. It struck the ground at a shallow nose-down angle with the port wing slightly low and caught fire.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The captain did not properly observe and interpret his flight instruments and thus inadvertently permitted the aircraft to descend to the ground immediately after a night takeoff during which no visual reference was possible. A contributory factor may have been the slow reactions of the captain due to his state of health."

Events:

Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest, Circular 59-AN/54 (135-138)