What happened
A twin-engine aircraft was conducting a scheduled charter service from Nepalgunj to Simikot, transporting five passengers and two pilots. As the flight approached Simikot Airport, the crew encountered heavy ground fog and significantly reduced visibility. These conditions necessitated an initial go-around procedure. Following this, the crew attempted to land two more times, but both subsequent approaches were also aborted.
During the fourth attempt to land, the crew continued the approach despite lacking adequate visual contact with the terrain. After passing through the cloud layer, the twin-engine aircraft struck the ground short of runway 28 with significant force. The impact caused the undercarriage to separate from the airframe. The aircraft slid for several dozen meters before veering toward the right side of the runway, where it came to a stop with the left wing fractured into two pieces. All seven occupants managed to evacuate the wreckage without injury, though the aircraft was determined to be a total loss.
Findings
- The primary factor in the accident was the continued approach without sufficient visual contact with the ground during periods of low visibility and fog.