Date:	Thursday 31 May 1973
Time:	21:58
Type:	Boeing 737-2A8
Owner/operator:	Indian Airlines
Registration:	VT-EAM
MSN:	20486/279
Year of manufacture:	1971
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9A
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 48 / Occupants: 65
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	6 km from Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) -   India
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Madras Airport (MAA/VOMM)
Destination airport:	Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL/VIDP)

Narrative:
The Boeing 737 named "Saranga" collided with high tension wires during an NDB instrument approach, crashed and caught fire. The visibility was below minima, but the pilot continued the approach, descended below minimum descent altitude and selected 40deg. flaps without sighting the runway.
The plane had taken off from Madras at 19:15.

Civil aircraft accidents 1973 / Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, CAD, ASD
Deccan Herald

• 19^th worst accident in 1973
• 32^nd worst accident of this aircraft type
• worst accident of this aircraft type at the time

Date/time	Contributor	Updates