Zone
Bheri

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan near Simikot: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 2018 at 0645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AJU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Surkhet – Simikot
MSN:
208B-0770
YOM:
1999
Location:
Simikot
Karnali
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total hours on type:
414.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
461
Aircraft flight hours:
15757
Aircraft flight cycles:
31540
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Surkhet Airport at 0612LT on a cargo flight to Simikot. At 0627LT, the crew made his last radio transmission with Nepalgunj Tower. About 18 minutes later, while cruising by night at an altitude of 12,800 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near the Simikot Pass, some 12 km from Simikot Airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The Commission determines the most probable cause of this accident was to continue the flight despite unfavorable weather conditions resulting inadvertent flight into instrument
meteorological conditions and there by deviating from the normal track due to loss of situational awareness that aggravated the spatial disorientation leading to CFIT accident. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Possible effect of hypoxia due to flight for prolonged period in high altitude without oxygen supplement,
- Ineffective safety management of the company which prevented the organization from identifying and correcting latent deficiencies in risk management and inadequacies in pilot training.
Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec M28-05 Skytruck in Bajura: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 2017 at 1210 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-28
Operator:
Registration:
NA-048
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Surkhet - Simikot
MSN:
AJE003-02
YOM:
2004
Location:
Bajura
Seti
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew departed Surkhet on a flight to Simikot but was unable to land at Simikot due to high winds and diverted to Bajura Airfield. Upon arrival, the twin engine aircraft crashed and came to rest upside down. The captain was killed and both other crew members were seriously injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Jumla: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 2006 at 1203 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AEQ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nepālganj – Surkhet – Jumla
MSN:
708
YOM:
1980
Location:
Jumla
Karnali
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
23392
Aircraft flight cycles:
36092
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Nepālganj Airport on a domestic service to Jumla with an intermediate stop in Surkhet, carrying six passengers, three crew members and a load consisting of bags containing grains for a total of 941 kilos. While approaching Jumla Airport, the crew was informed that runway 27 was in use with a wind from 240 at 4 knots. For unknown reasons, the captain started the approach to runway 09 at 1201LT. At an excessive speed, he missed the runway, initiated a go-around procedure and passed to the right of the tower. Then, he started a steep turn to the left when the aircraft lost height and speed and crashed in a field located 500 meters east of the airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 9 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew's attempt to make a sudden go-around while close to runway 09 threshold with a very low circuit altitude and subsequent attempt to turn in a tight circuit with excessive angle of bank that led to a stall. The aircraft subsequently contacted terrain due to insufficient clearance available for effective stall recovery. The quick decisions to change runway added to the crew workload at a critical period which was aggravated by the breakdown of cockpit discipline. The other contributory factors leading to the accident were:
- Violation of company Standard Operating Procedures by flight crew,
- Insufficient monitoring of its flight training program and line operations by Yeti management,
- Inadequate oversight of Yeti Airlines by CAAN.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Surkhet: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 2002 at 1422 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AGF
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Jumla - Surkhet
MSN:
828
YOM:
1985
Location:
Surkhet
Bheri
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Jumla at 1404LT on a 25-minutes flight to Surkhet with two passengers and two pilots on board. While descending to Surkhet, the crew encountered poor visibility due to bad weather conditions. At an altitude of 6,500 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and crashed 10 km from Surkhet. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew descended below the minimum prescribed altitude in poor visibility.

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 100 in Surkhet

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1999 at 0635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short SC.7 Skyvan Variant
Operator:
Registration:
RAN-19
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1884
YOM:
1970
Location:
Surkhet
Bheri
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on runway 20, the aircraft started to skid. Halfway down, the crew decided to abandon the takeoff procedure but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest in a ravine. Both pilots escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Weather conditions were good at the time of the accident with an OAT of 18° C. and light wind. The Surkhet Airport runway 20/02 is grass and is 3,400 feet long. It was reported that at the time of the accident, the turf was quit high and wet due to the morning dew which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter near Surkhet: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1991 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
RAN-26
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Surkhet - Jumla
MSN:
843
YOM:
1988
Location:
Surkhet
Bheri
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Four minutes after his takeoff from Surkhet Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 5,800 feet, the captain informed ATC about good flight conditions and that he was leaving the valley shortly. A minute later, while flying in clouds, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain (6,300 feet high) located few km from Surkhet Airport. The wreckage was found 500 feet below the summit and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following a wrong altimeter setting. It was determined that the crew departed Surkhet Airport under VFR mode but while climbing, he encountered limited visibility as the mountain struck by the aircraft was shrouded in clouds. At impact, the captain's altimeter showed 7,350 feet while the aircraft's real altitude was 5,800 feet.
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