Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Lukla: 18 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 2008 at 0731 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AFE
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:
720
YOM:
1980
Location:
Lukla-Tenzing-Hillary
Sagarmatha
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Captain / Total flying hours:
8185
Captain / Total hours on type:
7180.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
556
Copilot / Total hours on type:
341
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport at 0651LT on a regular schedule service to the Lukla-Tenzing-Hillary Airport. On approach to runway 06, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Despite the pilot did not establish any visual contact with the ground, he continued the approach when, on short final, the aircraft struck a rock and crashed just below the runway 06 threshold, bursting into flames. The captain was seriously injured while 18 other occupants were killed, among them 12 Germans, 2 Australians and 5 Nepalese.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the captain decided to continue the approach under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

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 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 Pokhara: 18 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 2002 at 1005 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AFR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Jomsom - Pokhara
MSN:
762
YOM:
1981
Location:
Pokhara
Gandaki
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Jomsom Airport at 0941LT for a 25-minutes flight to Pokhara, carrying three crew members and 15 passengers, 13 Germans, one American and one British. While descending to Pokhara Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds. At an altitude of 4,600 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 6 km southwest of the airport, near the village of Kristi Nachnechaur. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and all 18 occupants were killed. There was no fire.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew descended too low in poor visibility without maintaining visual clearance with the ground.

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 De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Dhangadhi: 25 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 2000 at 1035 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ABP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bajhang - Dhangadhi
MSN:
654
YOM:
1979
Location:
Dhangadhi
Seti
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
While descending to Dhangadhi Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions and limited visibility due to low clouds. At an altitude of 4,300 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Jarayakhali located 29 km from Dhangadhi Airport runway 09. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 25 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

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.
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