Zone
Bagmati

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Bairahawa: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AAD
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bairahawa – Kathmandu
MSN:
19792
YOM:
1944
Location:
Siddharthanagar
Lumbini
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bairahawa Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL near Kathmandu: 20 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CYN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Shimla-Katmandou
MSN:
19988
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kathmandu
Bagmati
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The crew started the descent to Kathmandu in poor weather conditions when the airplane crashed on a mountainous area located about 20 km from the airport. Following a navigational error on part of the pilots, the airplane followed a wrong approach path to Kathmandu Airport and went into the wrong valley. At the last moment, the pilot-in-command made a sharp turn to avoid the mountain but the aircraft stalled due to an insufficient speed and crashed on a rocky slope. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 20 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Navigation error on part of the flying crew. Lack of visibility caused by poor weather conditions was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Kathmandu: 15 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DBA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Shimla – Kathmandu
MSN:
13165
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kathmandu
Bagmati
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The landing at Kathmandu-Tribhuvan was completed at an excessive speed. On touchdown, the aircraft bounced several times before landing firmly. After few dozen yards, the pilot-in-command added power in an attempt to go around when the airplane overran and crashed into a ravine. Nineteen occupants were injured while 14 others plus one person on the ground were killed.
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