Kathmandu – Lukla
Flight / Schedule
Kathmandu – Lukla
Aircraft
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin OtterRegistration
9N-AFE
MSN
720
Year of Manufacture
1980
Operator
Yeti AirlinesDate
October 8, 2008 at 07:31 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Lukla-Tenzing-Hillary Sagarmatha
Region
Asia • Nepal
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On October 8, 2008 at 07:31 AM, Kathmandu – Lukla experienced a crash involving De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, operated by Yeti Airlines, with the event recorded near Lukla-Tenzing-Hillary Sagarmatha.
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.
19 people were known to be on board, 18 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 94.7%.
Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 16, passenger fatalities: 16, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft departed Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport at 0651LT on a regular schedule service to the Lukla-Tenzing-Hillary Airport. On approach to runway 06, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Despite the pilot did not establish any visual contact with the ground, he continued the approach when, on short final, the aircraft struck a rock and crashed just below the runway 06 threshold, bursting into flames. The captain was seriously injured while 18 other occupants were killed, among them 12 Germans, 2 Australians and 5 Nepalese.
Aircraft reference details include registration 9N-AFE, MSN 720, year of manufacture 1980.
Fatalities
Total
18
Crew
2
Passengers
16
Other
0
Crash Summary
The aircraft departed Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport at 0651LT on a regular schedule service to the Lukla-Tenzing-Hillary Airport. On approach to runway 06, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Despite the pilot did not establish any visual contact with the ground, he continued the approach when, on short final, the aircraft struck a rock and crashed just below the runway 06 threshold, bursting into flames. The captain was seriously injured while 18 other occupants were killed, among them 12 Germans, 2 Australians and 5 Nepalese.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
3
Passengers On Board
16
Estimated Survivors
1
Fatality Rate
94.7%
Known people on board: 19
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Kathmandu – Lukla
Operator
Yeti AirlinesFlight 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
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