Police to base probe into Pune trainer aircraft crash-landing on DGCA findings

The trainer aircraft of Baramati based private pilot training institute, Carver Aviation had crash landed on a farm owned by Dada Barate, a farmer, in Kadbanwadi village in Indapur taluka of Pune district at 11.30 am on Monday. The place is located 17 km from Indapur town and 120 km from Pune city.

The plane, which is of Cessna-152 make, was being flown solo by Rathod. Director General of Civil Aviation Arun Kumar had said Monday that power loss was suspected to be behind the aircraft crash. The aircraft had taken off from the runway near Baramati where Carver Aviation operates its trainer aircraft.

While the plane had crashed less than 100 feet away from the nearest house on the farm, no casualties were reported on the ground. Residents said two more aircraft were seen hovering at the time of the accident, which police believe were part of the sortie from Carver Aviation.

In a tweet after the incident, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had said, “The trainee aircraft crash in Indapur, Pune district, is unfortunate. No fatalities have been reported. Praying for the recovery of injured pilot, Ms Bhavika Rathod. The DGCA has commenced an investigation to ascertain the cause of the incident.”

Carver Aviation, registered as the Academy of Carver Aviation Private Ltd, was established in August 1995. The establishment conducts training programmes for pilots and in also involved with aircraft maintenance engineering. The training activities of the establishment are conducted from a runway, hanger, apron, control tower and hangar located near Baramati.