Fatal aircraft crash in Shashgow Ghazni during flight from Tarinkot

19 fatalities • Shashgow Ghazni, Afghanistan • Flight

A flight traveling from Tarinkot to Kabul crashed into a mountainside, resulting in the deaths of all 19 people on board.

What happened

On a flight departing from Tarinkot (Urozgan) Airport with a destination of Kabul, the aircraft encountered increasingly difficult weather conditions. In response to the changing environment, the crew elected to ascend to an altitude of 18,500 feet while maintaining Visual Flight Rules (VFR). During this period of degraded visibility and poor weather, the aircraft became uncontrollable and struck a mountain slope in the Shashgow Ghazni region.

All 19 people on board the aircraft perished in the impact. There were no survivors from the accident.

Findings

Investigations into the crash identified several critical contributing factors. The crew attempted to continue the flight under VFR protocols despite the presence of adverse weather conditions, which ultimately led to a loss of control. Additionally, it was determined that the crew experienced physical impairment caused by hypoxia, resulting from insufficient oxygen levels while operating at high altitude.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the crew's decision to fly under VFR in poor weather combined with physiological impairment due to lack of supplemental oxygen at high altitude.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1983-03-10 De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter accident near Shashgow Ghazni, Afghanistan?

A flight traveling from Tarinkot to Kabul crashed into a mountainside, resulting in the deaths of all 19 people on board.

Were there any fatalities in the 1983-03-10 De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 19 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1983-03-10 involved a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, registration YA-GAZ, operated by Bakhtar Afghan Airlines, at Shashgow Ghazni, Afghanistan.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by the crew's decision to fly under VFR in poor weather combined with physiological impairment due to lack of supplemental oxygen at high altitude.

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