Pokhara – Jomsom

On May 29, 2022 at 10:07 AM, Pokhara – Jomsom experienced a crash involving De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, operated by Tara Air, with the event recorded near Shikha Dhawalagiri.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

22 people were known to be on board, 22 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 19, passenger fatalities: 19, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The twin engine airplane departed Pokhara City Airport Runway 04 at 0955LT on a schedule service to Jomsom, carrying 19 passengers and three crew members. After takeoff, the pilot initiated a turn to the left and continued to climb to 12,000 feet (calibrated altitude) when a turn was initiated to the right. In limited visibility, the aircraft impacted the slope of a rocky mountain located in the area of Shikha, some 14 km southwest from the Annapurna Mountain. The wreckage was found the following day. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 22 occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration 9N-AET, MSN 619, year of manufacture 1979.