Accident description
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| Status: | |
| Date: | 17 DEC 1978 |
| Type: | Boeing 737-2A8 |
| Operator: | Indian Airlines |
| Registration: | VT-EAL |
| C/n / msn: | 20485/277 |
| First flight: | 1971-02-25 (7 years 10 months) |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 126 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 132 |
| Ground casualties: | Fatalities: 3 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Hyderabad-Begumpet Airport (HYD) (India)
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| Phase: | Takeoff (TOF) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Hyderabad-Begumpet Airport (HYD/VOHY), India |
| ? |
The Indian Airlines aircraft lifted off from runway 09, but the leading edge devices did not deploy and as a result the aircraft became aerodynamically unstable. The take-off was aborted and the aircraft was flared for a belly landing with undercarriage retracted. The aircraft belly-landed in nose up, left wing low attitude, on the centre line of the runway. It slid for 3080 feet, hit a boundary fence, crossed a drain and ploughed in rough terrain negotiating with small boulders and came to rest. Fire broke out on impact. The aircraft was completely destroyed by fire. Three persons cutting grass near the boundary fence of the airport were killed.
PROBABLE CAUSE: Non-availability of leading edge devices immediately after rotation during take-off. Sources:
» A Benefit Analysis for Cabin Water Spray Systems and Enhanced Fuselage Burnthrough Protection (CAA PAPER 2002/04)
Statistics
9th loss of a Boeing 737-200
5th worst accident involving a Boeing 737-200 (at the time)
47th worst accident involving a Boeing 737-200 (currently)
61st worst accident in India (at the time)
92nd worst accident in India (currently) » figures explained
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.
5th worst accident involving a Boeing 737-200 (at the time)
47th worst accident involving a Boeing 737-200 (currently)
61st worst accident in India (at the time)
92nd worst accident in India (currently) » figures explained
