Bangkok - Kathmandu
Flight / Schedule
Bangkok - Kathmandu
Aircraft
Douglas DC-8Registration
HS-TGU
MSN
45526/89
Year of Manufacture
1960
Operator
Thai Airways InternationalDate
May 10, 1973 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Bagmati
Region
Asia • Nepal
Coordinates
27.6866°, 85.2525°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On May 10, 1973 at 12:00 AM, Bangkok - Kathmandu experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-8, operated by Thai Airways International, with the event recorded near Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Bagmati.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
110 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 109 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.9%.
Crew on board: 10, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 100, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 1.
The listed crash cause is human factor. After touchdown at Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport, the four engine airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and one engine before coming to rest in a dump. Onee people on the ground was killed and four passengers were injured. The aircraft was written off.
Aircraft reference details include registration HS-TGU, MSN 45526/89, year of manufacture 1960.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 27.6866°, 85.2525°.
Fatalities
Total
1
Crew
0
Passengers
0
Other
1
Crash Summary
After touchdown at Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport, the four engine airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and one engine before coming to rest in a dump. Onee people on the ground was killed and four passengers were injured. The aircraft was written off.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
10
Passengers On Board
100
Estimated Survivors
109
Fatality Rate
0.9%
Known people on board: 110
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Bangkok - Kathmandu
Operator
Thai Airways InternationalFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Asia • Nepal
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Royal Air Force - RAF
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
After touchdown, the aircraft encountered difficulties to stop. It overran and went down and embankment before coming to a halt. While the aircraft was destroyed, all 16 occupants were rescued.
Kalinga Airlines
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
During the takeoff run, the captain saw a man crossing the runway and decided to liftoff asap. He pulled on the control column and the aircraft rotated quickly. Unfortunately, the aircraft's speed was too low and it stalled before crashing few dozen yards farther. Two crewmen were killed while a third one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Indian Airlines
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
The landing at Kathmandu-Tribhuvan was completed at an excessive speed. On touchdown, the aircraft bounced several times before landing firmly. After few dozen yards, the pilot-in-command added power in an attempt to go around when the airplane overran and crashed into a ravine. Nineteen occupants were injured while 14 others plus one person on the ground were killed.
Indian Airlines
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
The crew started the descent to Kathmandu in poor weather conditions when the airplane crashed on a mountainous area located about 20 km from the airport. Following a navigational error on part of the pilots, the airplane followed a wrong approach path to Kathmandu Airport and went into the wrong valley. At the last moment, the pilot-in-command made a sharp turn to avoid the mountain but the aircraft stalled due to an insufficient speed and crashed on a rocky slope. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 20 occupants have been killed.
Swiss Dhaulagiri Expedition
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
The crew was completing a supply mission to the Swiss Dhaulagiri Expedition in the Himalaya Mountain Range and was leaving the Dambusch Pass to return to his base at Pokhara when the airplane crashed on takeoff. The right wing and the propeller were bent. While both crew members were uninjured, the airplane was abandoned in situ. Swiss people returned on site (5,200 meters high) in 1998 to recover the airplane that should repatriated in Switzerland. It is believed that a technical issue was the cause of the accident. Crew: Ernst Saxer, pilot, Emil Wick, copilot.
Royal Nepal Airlines
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Shortly after takeoff from Bairahawa Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. All four crew members were killed.
