Narrative:
Lufthansa Cargo Flight 8533, a Boeing 727, departed runway 20 at Kathmandu, Nepal for a flight to Delhi, India.
While climbing after takeoff, the aircraft proceeded across the 4 DME arc prior to commencing a shallow right turn. As the aircraft was in a 10-degree right bank turn at approximately 4.4 DME crossing the Kathmandu VOR/DME on the 247 degree radial, the GPWS warning sounded. The stick shaker activated 11 seconds after the initial GPWS warning as the speed dropped below 171 knots. The aircraft impacted terrain in the Champadevi hills at the 7550 feet level, 6 NM south west of Kathmandu VOR/DME.
The plane was carrying about 21 tons of cargo, mostly woolen carpet, when it crashed. Weather at the time was drizzly conditions with ground temperature of 22°C.
PROBABLE CAUSE: The accident occurred as the crew after take off did not adhere to the published Standard Instrument Departure (SID) procedure for runway 20 at Kathmandu, Nepal.
Contributory factors:
- incomplete departure briefing given by P1 while other cockpit activities were in progress;
- the unexpected airspeed decay to V 2 -3 during initial right climbing turn South of the VOR which occurred while P2 was busy with ATC;
- the improper power and climb profile used by P1 after rolling the aircraft out on a Southwest heading following the initial airspeed loss;
- the inadequate intra cockpit crew co-ordination and communication as the aircraft proceeded to and across the KTM VOR 4DME arc before recommencing a shallow right turn and the incorrect; and
- slow response to the initial and subsequent GPWS activation prior to the collision with the terrain.
accident date: 07-07-1999
type: Boeing 727-243F
registration: VT-LCI
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Wednesday 7 July 1999 |
| Time: | 19:34 |
| Type: |  Boeing 727-243F |
| Operator: | Lufthansa Cargo Airlines (Hinduja Airlines) |
| Registration: | VT-LCI |
| MSN: | 22168/1770 |
| First flight: | 1981-08-03 (17 years 11 months) |
| Total airframe hrs: | 43000 |
| Cycles: | 25000 |
| Engines: | 3 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 11 km (6.9 mls) SW of Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport (KTM) ( Nepal)
|
| Crash site elevation: | 2301 m (7549 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport (KTM/VNKT), Nepal |
| Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL/VIDP), India | |
| Flightnumber: | 8533 |
Lufthansa Cargo Flight 8533, a Boeing 727, departed runway 20 at Kathmandu, Nepal for a flight to Delhi, India.
While climbing after takeoff, the aircraft proceeded across the 4 DME arc prior to commencing a shallow right turn. As the aircraft was in a 10-degree right bank turn at approximately 4.4 DME crossing the Kathmandu VOR/DME on the 247 degree radial, the GPWS warning sounded. The stick shaker activated 11 seconds after the initial GPWS warning as the speed dropped below 171 knots. The aircraft impacted terrain in the Champadevi hills at the 7550 feet level, 6 NM south west of Kathmandu VOR/DME.
The plane was carrying about 21 tons of cargo, mostly woolen carpet, when it crashed. Weather at the time was drizzly conditions with ground temperature of 22°C.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: The accident occurred as the crew after take off did not adhere to the published Standard Instrument Departure (SID) procedure for runway 20 at Kathmandu, Nepal.
Contributory factors:
- incomplete departure briefing given by P1 while other cockpit activities were in progress;
- the unexpected airspeed decay to V 2 -3 during initial right climbing turn South of the VOR which occurred while P2 was busy with ATC;
- the improper power and climb profile used by P1 after rolling the aircraft out on a Southwest heading following the initial airspeed loss;
- the inadequate intra cockpit crew co-ordination and communication as the aircraft proceeded to and across the KTM VOR 4DME arc before recommencing a shallow right turn and the incorrect; and
- slow response to the initial and subsequent GPWS activation prior to the collision with the terrain.
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» Civil aviation aircraft accident summary for the year 1999 / DGAC IndiaPhotos
accident date: 07-07-1999
type: Boeing 727-243F
registration: VT-LCI
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport to Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport as the crow flies is 810 km (506 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport to Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport as the crow flies is 810 km (506 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: 
Nepal
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Boeing 727
- 1832 built
- 88th loss
- 51st fatal accident
- 45th worst accident (at the time)
- 51st worst accident (currently)
Nepal- 12th worst accident (at the time)
- 29th worst accident (currently)
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