AAIB: No ATC watch at Kalaburagi Airport on day of Cessna crash

It matters to citizens as it provides initial factual details about the incident, the injuries sustained by the crew, and the ongoing safety investigation.

Who it concerns: The report concerns the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the operator Redbird Flight Training Academy Pvt. Ltd. (RFTAPL), the aircraft owner Bluethroat Aero Global Private Limited, the instructor and student pilot on board, and the local community in Vijayapura District, Karnataka.

What the investigators found

• The accident involved a Cessna 172 (VT-EUC) operating a cross-country training flight from Kalaburagi Airport to Belagavi Airport.
• The aircraft experienced a loss of engine power approximately 66 NM from Belagavi, leading to a precautionary landing in an agricultural field.
• The aircraft overturned and came to rest inverted, sustaining substantial damage including a broken nose landing gear, bent main landing gear, and engine damage.
• The instructor sustained serious injuries (cuts to knee and face) and the student pilot sustained minor injuries; both were hospitalized and later discharged.
• The AAIB noted that the instructor did not complete entries for 'Fuel Before Flight' and 'Actual Fuel Uplift' in the technical log prior to departure, though 'Total Fuel' was recorded as 200 liters.
• The investigation is ongoing, with the wreckage, engine, logbooks, and CCTV footage secured for further examination.
• The AAIB stated that the objective of the investigation is the prevention of accidents and not to apportion blame or liability.

Also in the document

• The aircraft was manufactured in 1975 and had undergone maintenance (Induction Air Filter replacement and Operation 27 Inspection) on 07.02.2026, the day before the accident.
• No fuel was available in the aircraft for sampling during the investigation, although oil samples were collected.
• The aircraft was not fitted with flight data recorders or cockpit voice recorders, which is stated to be in compliance with prevalent regulations.
• There was no Air Traffic Control (ATC) watch at Kalaburagi Airport on the date of the accident, as per NOTAM C0004/26.
• The student pilot was rescued from the cockpit by the instructor with assistance from locals.