Incident Overview
Date: Thursday 22 August 2002
Aircraft Type: de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300
Owner/operator: Shangri-La Air
Registration Number: 9N-AFR
Location: 5 km SE of Pokhara –
ÿ Nepal
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 18 / Occupants: 18
Component Affected: Twin Otter aircraftTwin Otter aircraft
Category: Accident
A Twin Otter aircraft crashed against a hill in Pokhara after a prolonged period of heavy rainfall, resulting in the loss of all 15 passengers and crew. This incident mirrors a previous crash on the same route three years prior, highlighting a potential recurring hazard.A Twin Otter aircraft crashed against a hill in Pokhara after a prolonged period of heavy rainfall, resulting in the loss of all 15 passengers and crew. This incident mirrors a previous crash on the same route three years prior, highlighting a potential recurring hazard.
Description
The Twin Otter departed Jomsom at 09:41 for a 25-minute flight to Pokhara, carrying 15 tourists. The aircraft crashed against a hill which was under complete cloud cover following 3 days of continuous rains. Almost exactly four years ago (August 21, 1998) another Twin Otter crashed on the same route, also killing all 18 occupants.
Primary Cause
Heavy rainfall and cloud cover prolonged visibility, creating a hazardous flying conditions that likely contributed to the crash.Heavy rainfall and cloud cover prolonged visibility, creating a hazardous flying conditions that likely contributed to the crash.Share on:
