Accident description
languages:
| Status: | |
| Date: | 31 MAY 1973 |
| Time: | ca 21:50 |
| Type: | Boeing 737-2A8 |
| Operator: | Indian Airlines |
| Registration: | VT-EAM |
| C/n / msn: | 20486/279 |
| First flight: | 1971-03-26 (2 years 2 months) |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 7 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 43 / Occupants: 58 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 48 / Occupants: 65 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 6 km (3.8 mls) from Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) (India)
 |
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Madras Airport (MAA/VOMM), India |
| Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL/VIDP), India | |
| Flightnumber: | 440 |
The Boeing 737 named "Saranga" collided with high tension wires during an NDB instrument approach, crashed and caught fire. The visibility was below minima, but the pilot continued the approach, descended below minimum descent altitude and selected 40deg. flaps without sighting the runway.
The plane had taken off from Madras at 19:15.
Sources:
» Deccan Herald
Sample newspaper article from Newspaperarchive.com
Statistics
3rd loss of a Boeing 737-200
The worst accident involving a Boeing 737-200 (at the time)
30th worst accident involving a Boeing 737-200 (currently)
5th worst accident in India (at the time)
14th worst accident in India (currently) » figures explained
The worst accident involving a Boeing 737-200 (at the time)
30th worst accident involving a Boeing 737-200 (currently)
5th worst accident in India (at the time)
14th worst accident in India (currently) » figures explained
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Madras Airport (MAA/VOMM) to Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL/VIDP) as the crow flies is 1750 km (1094 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
Distance from Madras Airport (MAA/VOMM) to Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL/VIDP) as the crow flies is 1750 km (1094 miles).
