Investigation Summary
Flight 128 was a short 35-minute scheduled domestic service. The aircraft, a Series B HS 748 built in 1988, had been acquired by Necon Air from UNI Air in November 1997. During the approach to Kathmandu's runway 02, the flight was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The crew encountered limited visibility due to a low cloud layer, which contributed to the failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain. The aircraft collided with a 100-foot-tall radio antenna located on Indrathan Hill at an altitude of approximately 6,000 feet. While some sources attribute the tower to the Nepal Telecommunication Corporation, others identify it as property of the Nepalese National Broadcasting Company. The collision caused the aircraft to lose control and impact a wooded area 7 km from the runway, resulting in a total loss of the airframe and no survivors. The victims included five Nepalese crew members and ten passengers of Nepalese, Indian, and Bangladeshi nationalities.
Final Conclusions
The accident was classified as Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). The aircraft struck a known telecommunications tower while on approach to Tribhuvan International Airport, indicating the flight path was below the safe altitude required for the terrain west of Kathmandu.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Telecommunications Tower
The physical obstacle struck by the aircraft during its descent toward Tribhuvan International Airport.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Hawker Siddeley HS 748 Super 2B built in 1988.
- 02All 15 occupants, including 10 passengers and 5 crew members, were killed.
- 03The crash site was located at coordinates 27°42′47″N 85°14′49″E.
- 04The aircraft was previously operated by UNI Air before being purchased by Necon Air in 1997.
- 05The accident occurred during daylight hours at 10:25 am local time.
Location
ACCIDENT SITE · Coordinates taken from the wikidata coordinate.