Mumbai Learjet Crash: Unstabilised Approach and Low-Altitude Stall Caused Disaster
The AAIB report reveals that an unstabilised approach and pilot error led to the 2023 VSR Ventures Learjet crash at Mumbai airport.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its final report on the September 2023 crash of a VSR Ventures Learjet 45XR at Mumbai airport, pointing to a series of critical errors by the flight crew as the primary cause. The investigation concludes that the decision to proceed with an unstabilised approach despite marginal weather conditions, coupled with improper aircraft handling, led to a low-altitude aerodynamic stall.
The Fatal Sequence of Events
On September 14, 2023, the Learjet 45XR was operating a non-scheduled passenger charter flight from Visakhapatnam to Mumbai. On board were eight individuals: a Pilot-in-Command (ATPL holder), a co-pilot (CPL holder), one flight attendant, and five passengers.
As the aircraft approached Mumbai airport amidst heavy rain and poor visibility, the flight became unstable and veered off course. Despite cockpit warnings regarding ground proximity and a stall, the aircraft crashed off the runway and caught fire. Fortunately, all eight people on board were evacuated and hospitalized with injuries.
Critical Lapses Identified by AAIB
The AAIB report highlights several contributory factors that created a perfect storm for the accident:
- Failure in Monitoring: The crew failed to adequately monitor the aircraft's airspeed during the final stages of the flight.
- Delayed Decision Making: There was a significant delay in deciding to perform a "go-around," which is the standard safety procedure when an approach is not stable.
- Environmental Pressures: Strong tailwinds and low visibility hampered the landing, yet the crew persisted.
- Time Pressure: The investigation found an "undue commitment" by the cockpit crew to land before the airport's scheduled restricted operational hours began.
A Global Investigation
The probe was conducted under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017. To ensure a comprehensive analysis, the AAIB collaborated with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and technical experts from the aircraft manufacturer, adhering to ICAO Annex 13 standards.
Urgent Safety Recommendations
To prevent such occurrences in the future, the AAIB has issued a series of stern recommendations to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the operator:
For the DGCA:
- Review recurrent training for pilots, with a specific focus on stall recovery while in landing configuration.
- Conduct a one-time audit of training records for fixed-wing pilots employed by general aviation and non-scheduled operators.
- Enforce stricter adherence to go-around procedures during unstabilised approaches.
- Enhance Crew Resource Management (CRM) training.
For VSR Ventures and AAI:
The bureau called for VSR Ventures to improve checklist compliance and maintain aircraft logbooks more diligently. Additionally, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) air traffic controllers were advised to ensure stricter adherence to wake turbulence separation norms.