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2010-05-17: Antonov AN-24 (YA-PIS) — Pamir Airways — Salang Pass, Afghanistan

Salang Pass, AfghanistanFlight

On May 17, 2010, an Antonov AN-24 (registration YA-PIS) operated by Pamir Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Salang Pass, Afghanistan in flight. 44 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew performed a descent into mountainous terrain despite instructions from air traffic control to maintain altitude, compounded by visibility issues and unaddressed cockpit warnings. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781196121Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft crashed into a mountainside south of the Salang Pass during a flight from Kunduz to Kabul, resulting in no survivors.

What happened

On a scheduled flight from Kunduz Airport to Kabul, a twin engine aircraft departed at 09:00 local time. The flight was carrying a total of 44 people, consisting of 38 passengers and six crew members, including six foreign nationals. During the transit, the aircraft encountered challenging weather conditions characterized by heavy fog and restricted visibility.

While navigating the route, the plane collided with a mountain slope situated south of the Salang Pass. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate. Search efforts were conducted by an ISAF helicopter crew, which located the debris field three days after the accident. The wreckage was found at an altitude of 4,270 meters, buried under snow.

All 44 occupants perished in the accident.

Findings

Investigations into the crash identified that the primary cause was controlled flight into terrain. This occurred after the crew proceeded with a descent despite receiving specific instructions from Air Traffic Control to remain at their current altitude.

Several contributing factors were noted during the investigation:

  • Reduced visibility caused by dense fog.
  • A failure to respond to Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) alerts.
  • Potential communication issues or a lack of response to alarms due to language barriers or previous experiences with false warnings.

Probable cause

The crew performed a descent into mountainous terrain despite instructions from air traffic control to maintain altitude, compounded by visibility issues and unaddressed cockpit warnings.
Controlled flight into terrain

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