Trainee pilot’s death: DGCA records show IGRUA has history of human errors

While the investigation into trainee pilot Sohail Ansari’s tragic death in an air crash at Chhindwara is likely to take at least three months as informed to his father by Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy (IGRUA) officials,a quick look at the accidents involving the academy indicate that it has a history of human errors causing crashes of aircraft flown by trainee pilots. The last mishap involving a Trinidad TB 20 aircraft of IGRUA took place on December 29,2008.

According to Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA),the student pilot flew in an unauthorised region at a very low altitude and touched water. In the course of recovery,he took a sharp left turn to avoid a tree ahead and crash landed,damaging the aircraft substantially. However,the student pilot survived the crash with minor injuries. Not adhering to the Standard Operating Procedure was the cause of accident. Using autopilot without functional knowledge and flying low so as to touch water contributed to the accident.”

Another accident took place on June 11,1999 when a IGRUA-operated Trinidad TB -20 aircraft was engaged in training flight from Fursatganj to Patna via Varanasi. The aircraft was under the command of Captain S R Singh along with trainee pilot Mohd Tariq. Two passengers were also on board the aircraft. The flight was to be operated under Visual Flying Rules.

DGCA records reveal that en-route to Patna from Varanasi,the aircraft encountered CB cells. The pilot lost control and aircraft and went into a spiral dive and crashed.