ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-8-53 JA8012 Delhi-Palam Airport (DEL)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Wednesday 14 June 1972
Time:20:18
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC85 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Douglas DC-8-53
Operator:Japan Air Lines - JAL
Registration: JA8012
MSN: 45680/213
First flight: 1964
Engines: 4 Pratt & Whitney JT3D-
Crew:Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 11
Passengers:Fatalities: 72 / Occupants: 76
Total:Fatalities: 82 / Occupants: 87
Ground casualties:Fatalities: 4
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:ca 20 km E of Delhi-Palam Airport (DEL) (   India)
Phase: Approach (APR)
Nature:International Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Bangkok-Don Muang International Airport (BKK/VTBD), Thailand
Destination airport:Delhi-Palam Airport (DEL/VIDP), India
Flightnumber:JL471
Narrative:
The DC-8 took off from Bangkok at 11:21 UTC on a flight to Delhi, India. Clearance for a straight-in ILS approach to Delhi runway 28 was given at 14:43 UTC. Shortly after reporting 23DME, the aircraft struck the banks of River Yamuna.
The first officer was Pilot Flying during the approach to Delhi.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: Japanese investigators claimed a false glide path signal to be responsible for the descent into terrain. Indian investigators say the accident was caused by a total disregard of laid down procedures by the crew and abandoning all instrument indications without properly ensuring sighting of the runway.

Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground

Sources:
» Civil aircraft accidents 1972 / Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, CAD, ASD


Photos

photo of DC-8-53-JA8012
accident date: 14-06-1972
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-8-53
registration: JA8012
 

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 Bangkok-Don Muang International Airport to Delhi-Palam Airport as the crow flies is 2905 km (1815 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.

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.
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DC-8

  • 556 built
  • 30th loss
  • 22nd fatal accident
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 India
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