What happened
During a positioning flight from Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport to Namche Bazar, a single-engine aircraft crashed into the terrain. The pilot was operating the flight alone to collect passengers for a subsequent leg. While the initial pre-flight briefing indicated favorable weather conditions for the route and destination, meteorological conditions worsened during the flight. Upon reaching the destination, the pilot encountered cloud cover extending up to 3,600 metres.
In an attempt to find better visibility, the pilot performed several circuits around the area. While searching for a break in the weather, the pilot identified a gap in the cloud layer and began a descent. During this maneuver, the aircraft collided with the slope of Mt Kongri Himal, situated approximately 3 km north of the airfield. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and one fatality.
Findings
- Weather conditions deteriorated significantly during the flight.
- Cloud obscuration prevented the pilot from maintaining terrain clearance during the descent.