IL76 / B741, en-route, west of Delhi India, 1996

IL76 / B741, en-route, west of Delhi India, 1996

Summary

On 12 November 1996, an Ilyushin IL76TD and an opposite direction Boeing 747-100 collided head on at the same level in controlled airspace resulting in the destruction of both aircraft and the loss of 349 lives. The Investigation concluded that the IL76 had descended one thousand feet below its cleared level after its crew had interpreted ATC advice of opposite direction traffic one thousand feet below as the reason to remain at FL150 as re-clearance to descend to this lower level. Fifteen Safety Recommendations relating to English language proficiency, crew resource management, collision avoidance systems and ATC procedures were made.

Description

On 12 November 1996, an Ilyushin IL76TD (UN-76435) being operated by Shymkent Avia, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan Airlines, on a non scheduled international passenger flight from Shymkent to Delhi as KZ1907 collided with a Boeing 747-100 (HZ-AIH) being operated by Saudia Airlines on a scheduled passenger fight from Delhi to Dhahran and level at FL140 in day IMC. Both aircraft were destroyed by impact forces and fire and all 349 occupants of the two aircraft were killed. 

Investigation

On learning of the accident, the Indian DGCA immediately appointed a senior member of their Flight Standards team as an Inspector of Accidents to lead an Investigation. Shortly after this the Indian Prime Minister and the Haryana State Chief Minister visited the accident site at Charkhi-Dadri and thereafter, a sitting High Court Judge was appointed to lead a formal investigation into the Accident in the form of a Court of Inquiry established under extant legislation. The Court then appointed the Air India Director of Safety and a retired Air Force Director of Operations (ATC) as Court Assessors and the DGCA Controller of Airworthiness as Secretary.

The FDR and CVR were recovered undamaged from the wreckage fields of both aircraft. The data from the IL76 recorders was downloaded under supervision at the Moscow-based Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) and that from the 747 recorders was downloaded at the UK AAIB.

The flight crew involved were as follows:

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