Region
Asia

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter in Kathmandu: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1975 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AAZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kathmandu - Phaplu
MSN:
727
YOM:
1971
Location:
Kathmandu-Tribhuvan
Bagmati
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kathmandu Airport, while in initial climb, the single engine airplane went out of control and crashed in flames in a cornfield. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all five occupants were killed, among them Louise Hillary and Belinda Hillary aged 16, spouse and daughter of the Alpinist Edmund Hillary.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot failed to realize that a ground lock pin on one of the ailerons was still in place and not remove prior to departure.

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

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1973
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ABG
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lukla - Kathmandu
MSN:
370
YOM:
1973
Location:
Lukla-Tenzing-Hillary
Sagarmatha
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while taking off from Lukla-Tenzing-Hillary Airport. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-33 in Kathmandu: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-8
Operator:
Registration:
HS-TGU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bangkok - Kathmandu
MSN:
45526/89
YOM:
1960
Location:
Kathmandu-Tribhuvan
Bagmati
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
100
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport, the four engine airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and one engine before coming to rest in a dump. Onee people on the ground was killed and four passengers were injured. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot-in-command who landed too far down the runway, causing the braking distance to be insufficient.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-45-DL in Dulikhel: 31 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1972 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
9N-RF10
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Skydiving / Paratroopers
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Panchkhal - Katmandu
MSN:
9950
YOM:
1943
Location:
Dulikhel
Bagmati
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Panchkhal Army Reserve, the crew encountered limited visibility. While cruising at low height, the airplane struck power cables, stalled and crashed in a field located in Dulikhel, about 20 km southeast of Katmandu-Tribhuvan Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 31 occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Jomsom: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1970
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
9N-RF9
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Jomsom - Kathmandu
MSN:
102
YOM:
1968
Location:
Jomsom
Dhawalagiri
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while taking off from Jomsom Airport. A passenger was killed.

Ground accident of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Nepalgunj

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AAO
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20135
YOM:
1944
Location:
Nepalgunj
Bheri
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered a ground accident at Nepalgunj Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3D in Hetauda: 35 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AAP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kathmandu - Simara
MSN:
42956
YOM:
1946
Location:
Hetauda
Narayani
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
35
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 7,300 feet in clouds, the twin engine airplane struck a tree located on the top of a hill and crashed in flames near the Sambri River. All 35 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to low clouds and the crew was unable to distinguish the mountain.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6 Porter in Lukla

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AAN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
350
YOM:
1961
Location:
Lukla-Tenzing-Hillary
Sagarmatha
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Lukla Airport runway 06, the single engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest against an earth mound. There were no casualties. The aircraft was repaired or partially repaired and never returned into service. The accident occured in April 1967 (exact date unknown).

Thanks to Claude Rouge who shared the photos from his father Frédy Rouge who was dispatched in Lukla in April 1967 to repair the aircraft.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6 Porter in Katmandu

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Registration:
HB-FAX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
344
YOM:
1960
Location:
Kathmandu-Tribhuvan
Bagmati
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
201
Circumstances:
On short final in strong crosswinds, the airplane stalled and crashed within the runway threshold. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was reported that the fuel selector was positioned to the lower tank, which prevented the fuel to reach the engine because of the position of the aircraft on final approach.

Special thanks to Claude Rouge who shared the photos and personnel logbook from his father Frédy Rouge who was in charge of HB-FAX at that time.
Subscribe to Nepal