Cessna 172 Trainer Aircraft Crashes Near Belagavi Airport Due to Inadequate Fuel

A Cessna 172 trainer aircraft, over 50 years old, made an emergency landing in Karnataka on Sunday. The aircraft, operated by Redbird Flight Training Academy, landed due to insufficient fuel. Both pilots onboard are safe, according to the civil aviation ministry. The aircraft, registered as VT-EUC, was en route from Kalaburagi to Belagavi when it crash-landed in a field near Vijayapura.

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The crash site is approximately 50 to 70 kilometres from Belagavi airport. Onboard were a flight instructor and a trainee pilot. The aircraft broke into three pieces upon impact, sources reported. The ministry stated that the forced landing was likely due to fuel starvation and noted that the plane was manufactured in 1975.

Aircraft Details and Certification

The aircraft's registration certificate with Redbird was issued on May 23, 2023. Its airworthiness certificate followed on September 20, 2023. The Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) was granted on August 1, 2025, valid until August 3, 2026. This certificate ensures the aircraft's fitness for flight after inspection.

The Pilot In Command (PIC) had accumulated 734 hours of flying experience. Redbird Flight Training Academy operates a fleet of 48 planes. Its Flying Training Organisation (FTO) approval remains valid until July 22, 2030. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved the academy as an FTO on July 23, 2020.

Pilot Safety and Investigation

Captain Kunal Malhotra, an Assistant Flight Instructor at Redbird Aviation, and trainee pilot Goutham Sankar P R were the pilots involved in the incident. A senior official from Redbird confirmed that both pilots underwent medical examinations post-crash and are unharmed.

Initial assessments suggest that the Pilot-In-Command and the Trainee Pilot may have neglected to refuel adequately, leading to the forced landing. There has been no official statement from Redbird Flight Training Academy regarding this incident.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will conduct further investigations into the accident. Their findings will provide more clarity on the circumstances surrounding this event.

With inputs from PTI