Date:	Wednesday 7 July 1999
Time:	19:34
Type:	Boeing 727-243F
Owner/operator:	Hinduja Cargo Services
Registration:	VT-LCI
MSN:	22168/1770
Year of manufacture:	1981
Total airframe hrs:	43000 hours
Cycles:	25000 flights
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	11 km SW of Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport (KTM) -   Nepal
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Cargo
Departure airport:	Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport (KTM/VNKT)
Destination airport:	Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL/VIDP)
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

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.

Civil aviation aircraft accident summary for the year 1999 / DGAC India

photo (c) Werner Fischdick; Sharjah Airport (SHJ); 22 February 1998

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