What happened
A single-engine aircraft departed from Surkhet Airport at 06:12 local time, performing a cargo mission destined for Simikot. The flight proceeded normally until 06:27 local time, when the pilot established the final radio contact with Nepalgunj Tower.
While flying at an altitude of 12,800 feet during the night, the plane collided with a mountain slope situated approximately 12 km from Simikot Airport, near the Simikot Pass. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate. There were two fatalities among the crew.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the primary reason for the accident was the decision to proceed with the flight despite encountering poor weather. This led to the aircraft entering instrument meteorological conditions, which caused a loss of situational awareness and spatial disorientation, ultimately resulting in controlled flight into terrain.
Several contributing factors were identified during the inquiry:
- The crew may have experienced hypoxia due to an extended period of high-altitude flight without supplemental oxygen.
- Deficiencies in the operator's safety management systems prevented the detection and correction of risks related to pilot training and organizational oversight.