On September 13, 1972, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration 9N-RF10) operated by Nepalese Army was involved in an aviation accident near Dulikhel, Nepal in flight. 31 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft struck power lines while flying at a low altitude in limited visibility, causing a stall and subsequent crash. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 5 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft crashed in a field near Dulikhel after striking power lines during low-altitude flight, resulting in the deaths of all 31 people on board.
What happened
Shortly after departing from the Panchkhal Army Reserve, the flight encountered conditions of restricted visibility. While operating at a low altitude, the aircraft collided with electrical power cables. This impact led to an aerodynamic stall, causing the plane to descend into a field situated in Dulikhel, approximately 20 kilometers southeast of Katmandu-Tribhuvan Airport.
The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. There were no survivors among the 31 fatalities recorded during the accident.
Findings
The crew was operating in an environment with limited visibility at the time of the incident.
The primary factor leading to the crash was the collision with power cables during low-altitude flight.
Probable cause
The aircraft struck power lines while flying at a low altitude in limited visibility, causing a stall and subsequent crash.