Crash of a Harbin Yunsunji Y-12-II in Lukla

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Harbin Yunsunji Y-12
Operator:
Nepal Airways
Registration:
9N-ACI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lukla - Kathmandu
MSN:
0069
YOM:
1992
Location:
Lukla-Tenzing-Hillary
Sagarmatha
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Lukla-Tenzing-Hillary Airport, at a speed of 85 knots, the nose gear collapsed. Out of control, the aircraft veered off runway and came to rest in a ditch. All 14 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the nose gear tyre burst after hitting stones coming from a pothole in the runway surface. This caused the nose gear to collapse.

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.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter in Simikot

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1991 at 1224 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ABS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nepalgunj - Simikot
MSN:
795
YOM:
1982
Location:
Simikot
Karnali
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Simikot Airport, the twin engine aircraft struck a tree and crashed 500 meters short of runway. Both pilots were injured.

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

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1991 at 1010 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ABA
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:
301
YOM:
1971
Location:
Lukla-Tenzing-Hillary
Sagarmatha
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to Lukla Airport, weather conditions deteriorated and the captain decided to go-around and to follow a holding pattern. Few minutes later, as he thought weather conditions improved, he decided to attempt to land and initiated a second approach. On short final, the aircraft entered a layer of low clouds and the aircraft was not properly aligned when it struck the runway surface and bounced. Out of control, it veered off runway and came to rest in a ravine. All 17 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 100 in Dhangadhi: 25 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Short SC.7 Skyvan Variant
Operator:
Registration:
RAN-23
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Katmandu – Dhangadhi
MSN:
1978
YOM:
1982
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 approaching Dhangadhi Airport, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a wooded area located on a mountain slope, few km from the airfield. All 25 occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Bhojpur: 15 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1984
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ABH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kathmandu - Bhojpur
MSN:
376
YOM:
1973
Location:
Bhojpur
Kosi
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
While descending to Bhojpur in marginal weather conditions, the Twin Otter struck the slope of a mountain located few km from the airport. All three crew members and 12 passengers were killed while eight others were injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew initiated the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to descend below the MDA.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter in Biratnagar: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1981 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ABJ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Biratnagar - Kathmandu
MSN:
746
YOM:
1975
Location:
Biratnagar
Kosi
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Biratnagar Airport, while in initial climb, the single engine airplane lost height and crashed. All 10 occupants were killed.

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.
Subscribe to 9N - Nepal