FlightFinder
15 fatalities

1984-12-22: De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (9N-ABH) — Royal Nepal Airlines — Bhojpur, Nepal

Bhojpur, NepalLanding (descent or approach)

On December 22, 1984, a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (registration 9N-ABH) operated by Royal Nepal Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Bhojpur, Nepal during landing or approach. 15 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The flight crew began their descent too early, leading the aircraft to descend below the safe minimum altitude. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781218868Data APIEditorial standards

A Twin Otter aircraft crashed into a mountainside during its approach to Bhojpur, resulting in multiple fatalities.

What happened

During an approach to the airport at Bhojpur, a Twin Otter aircraft impacted a mountain slope located several kilometers from the airfield. The incident occurred while the flight was performing a descent under challenging weather conditions.

Upon impact, the accident resulted in the deaths of 15 people, comprising all three crew members and 12 passengers. Additionally, eight other individuals sustained injuries during the crash.

Findings

Investigations into the accident concluded that the primary factor was a descent initiated by the crew before it was appropriate. This premature maneuver caused the aircraft to drop below the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) while navigating the terrain.

Probable cause

The flight crew began their descent too early, leading the aircraft to descend below the safe minimum altitude.
Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same operator

More accident analyses