Zone
Bagmati

Crash of a Dornier DO228-201 in Lukla

Date & Time: Jun 30, 2005 at 0735 LT
Type of aircraft:
Dornier DO228
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AEO
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kathmandu - Lukla
MSN:
8010
YOM:
1983
Location:
Lukla-Tenzing-Hillary
Sagarmatha
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Lukla-Tenzing-Hillary Airport, the twin engine aircraft skidded then veered off runway and came to rest in a dirt ground. All 12 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Lukla: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 2004 at 1356 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AFD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kathmandu - Lukla
MSN:
651
YOM:
1979
Flight number:
YET117
Location:
Lukla-Tenzing-Hillary
Sagarmatha
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While descending to Lukla Airport from the south following a cargo flight from Kathmandu, the crew encountered poor visibility due to clouds when, at an altitude of 11,600 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near the Lamjura Pass, in the Solukhumbu district. The wreckage was found west of the airport and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. The following factors were identified:
- Hazardous behaviour and attitudes of the captain such as overconfidence,
- The crew failed to comply with the approach routes, following a direct track,
- The crew failed to follow SOP's,
- The operator's policy for flying in adverse weather were incomplete and not up to date,
- Lack of communication by the operator,
- The operator was unable to perform internal investigations and execute corrective actions when required.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Simara: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1999 at 1502 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AFL
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Simara - Kathmandu
MSN:
796
YOM:
1982
Location:
Simara
Narayani
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Simara Airport at 1457LT on a schedule flight to Kathmandu with 10 people on board. Three minutes after takeoff, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Burja Lek located few km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 10 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was estimated to be 5 km with low ceiling.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew failed to follow the correct route after takeoff and continued at an insufficient altitude until the aircraft collided with terrain.

Crash of an Avro 748-501-2B in Kathmandu: 15 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1999 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AEG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Pokhara - Kathmandu
MSN:
1806
YOM:
1988
Flight number:
3Z104
Location:
Kathmandu-Tribhuvan
Bagmati
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
On approach to Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport under VFR mode, the crew encountered limited visibility due to a low cloud layer. On final, at an altitude of about 6,000 feet, the aircraft collided with a radio antenna (100 feet high) located on the top of a hill and owned by the Nepalese National Broadcasting Company. The aircraft went out of control and crashed seven km short of runway 02. All 15 occupants.
Probable cause:
Collision with obstacle on a VFR approach in limited visibility.

Crash of a Boeing 727-243F in Kathmandu: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1999 at 1951 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-200
Operator:
Registration:
VT-LCI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Katmandu – New Delhi – Sharjah
MSN:
22168
YOM:
1981
Flight number:
LCI8533
Location:
Kathmandu-Tribhuvan
Bagmati
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
43000
Aircraft flight cycles:
25000
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport on a cargo flight to Sharjah with an intermediate stop in New Delhi, carrying five crew members and a load of 21 tons of woolen carpets. After takeoff from runway 20, the crew continued to climb but failed to realize his altitude was insufficient. The aircraft struck the slope of Mt Champadevi located 11 km southwest of the airport and disintegrated on impact. All five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred as the crew after take off did not adhere to the published Standard Instrument Departure (SID) procedure for runway 20 at Kathmandu, Nepal.
The following contributory factors were identified:
- Incomplete departure briefing given by P1 while other cockpit activities were in progress,
- The unexpected airspeed decay to V 2 -3 during initial right climbing turn South of the VOR which occurred while P2 was busy with ATC,
- The improper power and climb profile used by P1 after rolling the aircraft out on a southwest heading following the initial airspeed loss,
- The inadequate intra cockpit crew coordination and communication as the aircraft proceeded to and across the KTM VOR 4 DME arc before recommencing a shallow right turn, and
- The incorrect and slow response to the initial and subsequent GPWS activation prior to the collision with the terrain.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter in Namche Bazar: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1998 at 1538 LT
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ABK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kathmandu - Namche Bazar
MSN:
755
YOM:
1975
Location:
Namche Bazar
Sagarmatha
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
5762
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport on a positioning flight to Namche Bazar to pick up passengers. During the pre-flight briefing, he was informed about the good weather conditions along the route and at destination. But en route, these conditions deteriorated and upon arrival, clouds were present up to 3,600 metres. He made several circuits expecting weather improvement. Few minutes later, he saw a hole in the clouds and initiated a descent when the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Kongri Himal located 3 km north of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Avro 748-106-1A in Pokhara

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ACM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kathmandu - Pokhara
MSN:
1549
YOM:
1963
Location:
Pokhara
Gandaki
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Pokhara Airport, the hydraulic system failed. The crew lost control of the airplane that veered off runway to the right and collided with a parked Nepal Airways Avro 748 registered 9N-ACW. All 48 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 748-352-2B in Meghauli

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1996 at 1158 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ABR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kathmandu - Meghauli
MSN:
1771
YOM:
1979
Flight number:
RA155
Location:
Meghauli
Narayani
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Kathmandu, the crew started the descent to Meghauli Airfield. On final, the aircraft was too high and landed too far down the runway, about 1,148 feet past the runway threshold (Meghauli Airstrip is 3,500 feet). Unable to stop on a wet grassy runway, the aircraft overran and came to rest in a ravine. All 31 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who landed the aircraft too far down the runway, reducing the landing distance available. Also, it was reported that the braking action was poor as the grassy runway was wet.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Kathmandu: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1995 at 1359 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ABI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kathmandu - Rumjatar
MSN:
392
YOM:
1973
Flight number:
RA133
Location:
Kathmandu-Tribhuvan
Bagmati
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on runway 20 at Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport, the aircraft failed to get airborne, overran, went through a fence and came to rest in a field. A passenger and a pilot were killed while all other occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew was composed by two captains. For unknown reasons, the pilot-in-command decided to abort the takeoff procedure but the crew failed to coordinate this decision. At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was 60 kilos above MTOW.

Crash of a Dornier DO228-101 in Bharatpur: 19 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Dornier DO228
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ACL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kathmandu - Bharatpur
MSN:
7029
YOM:
1984
Location:
Bharatpur
Narayani
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
While descending to Bharatpur Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. Too low, the aircraft struck the slope of a rocky peak located about 6,5 km short of runway 15 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all 19 occupants were killed.
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