Narrative:
A de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter operated by Nepal Airlines was destroyed when it impacted a mountainside near Sandhikhark, Nepal. All 18 on board sustained fatal injuries.
Flight RA183 was a domestic flight from Kathmandu to Jumla with a refueling stop at Pokhara. The airplane took off from Pokhara at 12:43. Upon leaving Pokhara Control Zone, the pilot in command realized that the direct track was not possible due weather and decided to proceed via a more southern track. During the flight the pilots were experiencing uncomfortable flying environment due to unfavorable weather conditions. Attempting to avoid the weather, the pilots had to fly up and down and changing the heading. Finally being unable to penetrate the weather ahead, the captain decided to divert to Bhairahawa, the nearest airport. However, the captain did not take into consideration the surrounding terrain and continued descent turning right.
The aircraft initially slashed a small tree and finally impacted a ridge. Due to the heavy impact the left wing was first disintegrated and then the front part of the aircraft toppled over beyond the ridge with several subsequent impacts.
The cockpit voice recorder showed that the copilot had warned the captain not to descend or turn.
The wreckage was located the following morning at an altitude of 7190 feet (2192 m). There were no surivors.
Causes:
After detail investigation and thorough analysis of the circumstances and evidences, the Commission has determined that the most probable causes of the accident is the
"Losing situational awareness on the part of PIC while flying into instrument meteorological weather condition to the extent of Collision with terrain."
The contributing factors to the occurrence are;
- Deteriorated weather associated with western disturbance, unstable in nature and embedded CB.
- Inappropriate and insufficient crew coordination while changing course of action.
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
» Nepali Times
» Hemant Arjyal
» SKYbrary
accident date: 16-02-2014
type: de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300
registration: 9N-ABB
accident date: 16-02-2014
type: de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300
registration: 9N-ABB
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 16 February 2014 |
| Time: | 13:30 |
| Type: |  de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 |
| Operator: | Nepal Airlines |
| Registration: | 9N-ABB |
| MSN: | 302 |
| First flight: | 1971 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 43947 |
| Cycles: | 74217 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 15 / Occupants: 15 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 18 / Occupants: 18 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 7 km (4.4 mls) NW of Sandhikhark ( Nepal)
|
| Crash site elevation: | 2192 m (7192 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Pokhara Airport (PKR/VNPK), Nepal |
| Jumla Airport (JUM/VNJL), Nepal | |
| Flightnumber: | 183 |
A de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter operated by Nepal Airlines was destroyed when it impacted a mountainside near Sandhikhark, Nepal. All 18 on board sustained fatal injuries.
Flight RA183 was a domestic flight from Kathmandu to Jumla with a refueling stop at Pokhara. The airplane took off from Pokhara at 12:43. Upon leaving Pokhara Control Zone, the pilot in command realized that the direct track was not possible due weather and decided to proceed via a more southern track. During the flight the pilots were experiencing uncomfortable flying environment due to unfavorable weather conditions. Attempting to avoid the weather, the pilots had to fly up and down and changing the heading. Finally being unable to penetrate the weather ahead, the captain decided to divert to Bhairahawa, the nearest airport. However, the captain did not take into consideration the surrounding terrain and continued descent turning right.
The aircraft initially slashed a small tree and finally impacted a ridge. Due to the heavy impact the left wing was first disintegrated and then the front part of the aircraft toppled over beyond the ridge with several subsequent impacts.
The cockpit voice recorder showed that the copilot had warned the captain not to descend or turn.
The wreckage was located the following morning at an altitude of 7190 feet (2192 m). There were no surivors.
Probable Cause:
Causes:
After detail investigation and thorough analysis of the circumstances and evidences, the Commission has determined that the most probable causes of the accident is the
"Losing situational awareness on the part of PIC while flying into instrument meteorological weather condition to the extent of Collision with terrain."
The contributing factors to the occurrence are;
- Deteriorated weather associated with western disturbance, unstable in nature and embedded CB.
- Inappropriate and insufficient crew coordination while changing course of action.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Loss of situational awarenessControlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» ekantipur.com» Nepali Times
» Hemant Arjyal
» SKYbrary
Follow-up / safety actions
Nepal AAIC issued 11 Safety Recommendations
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Photos
accident date: 16-02-2014
type: de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300
registration: 9N-ABB
accident date: 16-02-2014
type: de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300
registration: 9N-ABB
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Pokhara Airport to Jumla Airport as the crow flies is 213 km (133 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
Distance from Pokhara Airport to Jumla Airport as the crow flies is 213 km (133 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: 
Nepal
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DHC-6 Twin Otter
- 930+ built
- 272nd loss
- 176th fatal accident
- 19th worst accident (at the time)
- 20th worst accident (currently)
Nepal- 12th worst accident (at the time)
- 14th worst accident (currently)
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