What happened
On 16 February 2014, a DHC6/300 aircraft, registration 9N-ABB, was operating a scheduled domestic service for Nepal Airlines Corporation. The flight originated in Kathmandu and had successfully completed the first leg to Pokhara. After a brief refueling stop, the aircraft departed Pokhara at 0658 UTC, bound for Jumla.
During the flight, the crew encountered challenging weather conditions. While the pilots had reviewed weather reports for the destination and Bhairahawa, they struggled to accurately assess the weather along the flight path. To avoid terrain and inclement weather, the pilot in command decided to deviate south of the original track. The crew expressed specific concerns regarding potential icing conditions due to low temperatures.
As the flight progressed, the pilot in command directed the aircraft toward the Dang valley to avoid weather. During this period, the co-pilot raised concerns regarding the aircraft's remaining fuel levels. Approximately two and a half minutes before the impact, the pilot in command initiated a descent despite warnings from the co-pilot. The final moments of the flight involved the crew attempting to communicate with Bhairahawa Tower while navigating through clouds. The aircraft struck the ground and disintegrated, resulting in 18 fatalities.