What happened
On May 27, 2017, a LET 410 UVP-E20 operated by Goma Air was performing its fifth scheduled flight of the day from Kathmandu to Lukla. The aircraft, registration 9N-AKY, was operating as a cargo flight carrying 1680 kg of freight with a crew of two pilots and one cabin crew member. While initial weather reports for Lukla indicated acceptable visibility and ceilings, conditions began to degrade rapidly during the flight.
As the aircraft progressed toward its destination, air traffic controllers at Lukla Tower provided frequent updates regarding heavy rain and changing visibility. Although the airport had briefly closed due to rain, the weather appeared to clear, prompting the crew to continue the approach. During the descent, the pilot in command (PF) experienced a loss of situational awareness, resulting in a rightward deviation while continuing to descend. Despite warnings from the first officer regarding the low altitude, the aircraft continued to lose height.
In a final attempt to reach the runway threshold, the pilot executed an abrupt change in attitude to climb. Because the aircraft was in a landing configuration with full flaps and landing gear extended, this maneuver created excessive drag, leading to a stall. The aircraft struck a tree branch before impacting the terrain approximately 100 feet short of the runway. The impact resulted in 3 fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
- The flight crew attempted to land in marginal weather conditions despite rapidly deteriorating visibility.
- The pilot in command lost situational awareness during the descent.
- An abrupt climb attempt in a high-drag landing configuration caused the aircraft to stall.