Pakistan International Airlines Flight 205

Pakistan International Airlines Flight 205 (flight number: PK205, callsign: PAKISTAN 205) was an international scheduled flight of Pakistan International Airlines from Delhi to Karachi. On 15 May 1958 a serious accident occurred on this flight when a Convair CV-240-7 (AP-AEH) was flown into terrain by the disoriented captain on a moonless night immediately after takeoff from Delhi-Palam Airport. 21 of the 38 occupants of the aircraft and two people on the ground died in the accident.

Accident sequence

The aircraft had landed in Delhi at 19:02 after a flight from Karachi. The outbound flight was completed without any particular incidents. The aircraft was then prepared for the return flight and subsequently taxied to runway 27. The takeoff was carried out away from the built-up area, so that on the moonless night the pilots lacked visual reference points on the ground and the horizon could not be made out with the naked eye. The takeoff was carried out at 20:18. The aircraft lifted off after about ⅔ to ¾ of the runway length. The aircraft thus lifted off relatively easily and routinely, although with a takeoff weight of 18,759 kg (41,319 pounds) it was almost fully loaded (the maximum takeoff weight was 19,295 kg (42,500 pounds)). The landing gear was retracted immediately after lift-off. In a slight left turn, the aircraft then began to descend again from an altitude of 60 metres and struck the ground at the western edge of the airport, 220 metres beyond the end of the runway and 100 metres to the left of the extended runway centreline, with the nose pointing slightly downwards and the port wing slightly lowered, and caught fire.

Accident investigation

The accident was investigated by the Indian civil aviation authority. The final report was published on 8 August 1958. The cause of the accident was determined to be that the captain had not properly monitored the cockpit instruments after lift-off and had thus allowed the aircraft to descend again after takeoff. This had possibly come about due to spatial disorientation after a takeoff on a moonless night without the availability of visual reference points. Further factors given were the captain's limited experience on the aircraft type flown, as well as fatigue and possible unfitness to fly due to illness.