Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 7 July 1999
Aircraft Type: Boeing 727-243F
Owner/operator: Hinduja Cargo Services, opf Lufthansa Cargo Airlines
Registration Number: VT-LCI
Location: 11 km SW of Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport (KTM) – ÿ Nepal
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5
Component Affected: Aircraft System (Runway, Climb, Power, and Control)Aircraft System (Runway, Climb, Power, and Control)
Investigating Agency: NepalNepal
Category: Accident
Lufthansa Cargo Flight 8533, a Boeing 727, experienced a catastrophic crash during takeoff at Kathmandu, Nepal. The aircraft climbed after takeoff, then executed a shallow right turn. A GPWS warning triggered, leading to stick shaker activation and a rapid speed drop. It impacted terrain in the Champadevi hills, approximately 7550 feet above Kathmandu VOR/DME, carrying approximately 21 tons of cargo, mostly woolen carpet. Weather conditions included drizzly conditions with a ground temperature of 22øC.Lufthansa Cargo Flight 8533, a Boeing 727, experienced a catastrophic crash during takeoff at Kathmandu, Nepal. The aircraft climbed after takeoff, then executed a shallow right turn. A GPWS warning triggered, leading to stick shaker activation and a rapid speed drop. It impacted terrain in the Champadevi hills, approximately 7550 feet above Kathmandu VOR/DME, carrying approximately 21 tons of cargo, mostly woolen carpet. Weather conditions included drizzly conditions with a ground temperature of 22øC.

Description

Lufthansa Cargo Flight 8533, a Boeing 727, departed runway 20 at Kathmandu, Nepal for a flight to Delhi, India. While climbing after takeoff, the aircraft proceeded across the 4 DME arc prior to commencing a shallow right turn. As the aircraft was in a 10-degree right bank turn at approximately 4.4 DME crossing the Kathmandu VOR/DME on the 247 degree radial, the GPWS warning sounded. The stick shaker activated 11 seconds after the initial GPWS warning as the speed dropped below 171 knots. The aircraft impacted terrain in the Champadevi hills at the 7550 feet level, 6 NM south west of Kathmandu VOR/DME. The plane was carrying about 21 tons of cargo, mostly woolen carpet, when it crashed. Weather at the time was drizzly conditions with ground temperature of 22øC. PROBABLE CAUSE: The accident occurred as the crew after take off did not adhere to the published Standard Instrument Departure (SID) procedure for runway 20 at Kathmandu, Nepal. Contributory factors: – incomplete departure briefing given by P1 while other cockpit activities were in progress; – the unexpected airspeed decay to V 2 -3 during initial right climbing turn South of the VOR which occurred while P2 was busy with ATC; – the improper power and climb profile used by P1 after rolling the aircraft out on a Southwest heading following the initial airspeed loss; – the inadequate intra cockpit crew co-ordination and communication as the aircraft proceeded to and across the KTM VOR 4DME arc before recommencing a shallow right turn and the incorrect; and – slow response to the initial and subsequent GPWS activation prior to the collision with the terrain.

Primary Cause

Failure to adhere to Standard Instrument Departure (SID) procedure for runway 20 at Kathmandu, Nepal.Failure to adhere to Standard Instrument Departure (SID) procedure for runway 20 at Kathmandu, Nepal.

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