What happened
On 16 May 2013, a DHC6/300 aircraft, registration 9N-ABO, was performing a scheduled charter flight from Pokhara to Jomsom under Visual Flight Rules. The flight, operated by Nepal Airlines Corporation, carried 19 passengers and 3 crew members. During the approach, the pilot in command requested to land on runway 06 instead of the recommended runway 24, despite warnings from Jomsim Tower regarding a tailwind component.
The aircraft touched down on runway 06 at 08:30 local time, significantly past the runway threshold. Following the touchdown, the aircraft traveled approximately 194 feet along the pavement before exiting the right side of the runway and entering a grassy area. During the subsequent deceleration, the co-pilot retracted the flaps as part of the post-landing procedures without notifying the pilot in command.
In an attempt to regain control and steer the aircraft back toward the runway centerline, the pilot applied additional power. However, due to the loss of airspeed and the simultaneous application of brakes, the aircraft failed to maintain sufficient lift. The aircraft exited the end of runway 06, struck a barbed wire fence and a gabion wall, and ultimately fell down the embankment into a river. While the left wing became lodged in the river, preventing total submersion, the incident resulted in no fatalities but caused significant damage to the airframe.
Findings
- The pilot in command elected to use runway 06 despite being advised by air traffic control that runway 24 would avoid a tailwind.
- There was a lack of communication between the crew members regarding the tailwind conditions and the pilot's recovery maneuvers.
- The co-pilot retracted the flaps during the landing roll without briefing the pilot in command, which contributed to a loss of airspeed.
- The pilot's attempt to use increased power to steer the aircraft back onto the pavement was unsuccessful due to insufficient speed and the use of brakes.