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23 fatalities

VFR Flight to Jomsom Ends in CFIT Due to Weather and Spatial Disorientation (9N-AHH)

Dana, NepalFlight

On February 24, 2016, a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (registration 9N-AHH) operated by Tara Air was involved in an aviation accident near Dana, Nepal in flight. 23 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew's repeated decision to enter clouds during a VFR flight in unfavorable weather, combined with deviation from the normal track due to loss of situational awareness aggravated by spatial disorientation, led to a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT)… This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered 9N-AHH
Aircraft registered 9N-AHH. Photo: Nepal's Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission (AAIC) / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

An aircraft on a VFR flight to Jomsom entered clouds in unfavorable weather. Loss of situational awareness and spatial disorientation led to a controlled flight into terrain accident.

Flight Plan and Initial Operations On February 23, 2016, a flight plan was submitted for a visual flight rules (VFR) operation to Jomsom (VNJS) scheduled for February 24. The plan specified an estimated off-block time of 01:00, a cruising speed of 150 knots, a level of 10,500 ft, and a direct track. Bhairahawa (VNBW) and Pokhara (VNPK) were designated as the first and second alternates, with an estimated elapsed time of 20 minutes and fuel endurance of 2 hours 30 minutes. At 01:55, the first officer contacted Pokhara tower for weather at Jomsom and Bhairahawa. Jomsom reported 8 km visibility towards Lete and partially visible foothills. After a brief discussion about the conditions, the crew completed the before-start checklist and began start-up. At 02:00, the first officer requested taxi clearance, and ATC instructed a change to runway 22 instead of runway 04. During taxiing, the captain expressed concern about the runway change due to the weather but did not communicate this to ATC. The first officer, who had been briefed to fly, made a normal take-off at 02:04.

Probable cause

The crew's repeated decision to enter clouds during a VFR flight in unfavorable weather, combined with deviation from the normal track due to loss of situational awareness aggravated by spatial disorientation, led to a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accident. Contributing factors included loss of situational awareness, deteriorating weather, skill-based errors during critical phases, and failure to utilize available resources, particularly insensitivity to EGPWS cautions and warnings.
Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 24 Feb 2016 De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter accident near Dana, Nepal?

An aircraft on a VFR flight to Jomsom entered clouds in unfavorable weather. Loss of situational awareness and spatial disorientation led to a controlled flight into terrain accident.

Were there any fatalities in the 24 Feb 2016 De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 23 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 24 Feb 2016 involved a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, registration 9N-AHH, operated by Tara Air, at Dana, Nepal.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The crew's repeated decision to enter clouds during a VFR flight in unfavorable weather, combined with deviation from the normal track due to loss of situational awareness aggravated by spatial disorientation, led to a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accident. Contributing factors included loss of situational…

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