Date:	Sunday 1 September 1957
Time:	05:30
Type:	Douglas C-47A-25-DK (DC-3)
Owner/operator:	Indian Airlines
Registration:	VT-AUA
MSN:	13245
Year of manufacture:	1944
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport (CCU) -   India
Phase:	Taxi
Nature:	Cargo
Departure airport:	Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport (CCU/VECC)
Destination airport:	Pasighat Airport (IXT/VEPG)
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
Airwork Hermes G-AKFP was on a flight from Blackbushe to Singapore with intermediate stops at Karachi, Delhi, and Calcutta. Approaching Calcutta, the Hermes was cleared for a runway 19L ILS approach 04:41. At break-off height shower passed and the crew were not able to see the runway; an overshoot was carried out. At 05:01 ATC offered the captain a radar assisted approach to runway 01R; he was no. 2 to land at that moment. Radar Control then guided the aircraft and cleared it for a visual landing at 05:29. At that moment the aircraft was one mile from the threshold and to the left of the runway 01R centreline.
After breaking through clouds the captain observed the runway. R/T was turned down and the captain continued visually. In fact the Hermes was approaching runway 01L. An Indian Airlines DC-3 has just been cleared to line up and hold on runway 01L. On landing, the Hermes struck the DC-3.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "An error on the part of the Commander of the Hermes aircraft in turning down the R/T during the final stage of the radar assisted approach and in deciding to continue the approach under conditions which did not enable him to identify positively the correct runway."

ICAO Accident Digest, Circular 59-AN/54 (24-27)
Indian Express 2-9-1957

photo (c) Dave; Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport (CCU/VECC); 01 September 1957

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