12 killed in plane crash at Lukla

[Skybird]

Everybody having heared about Lukla probably will not be too surprised about a plane crashing there, with the runway just 1500 ft long and one end leading directly into the mountain wall, giving zero space for any error: your first approach has to end in touch-dolwn, or you are dead meat - and eventually take parts of the village with you. The real miracle seems to be that there are just so rare accidents.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,582828,00.html

This FS-video (wait until 0'30") shows schematic what a tricky place it is. There are plenty of landing videos for Lukla at youtube as well.

http://www.aerosoft2.de/videos/lukla.wmv

[Skybird]

Correction: 18 dead. Beside the 12 Germans, there were 2 Australians and 4 Nepalese on board. Only the pilot survived.

[porphy]

I try to ignore this at the moment, as I'm going to that runway in 18 days... :roll: To bad the crash turned out to be that severe. :cry: One article said the plane snagged its wheels on a fence when landing in foggy conditions.

cheers porphy

[UnderseaLcpl]

Wow, that's a scary runway. :o

I'll be praying for the families of those killed, and also for Porphy's safety on his trip.

[porphy]

Thanks! Today at least 15 flights landed in Lukla without a hitch. Statistics should now be in my favor, but as we all now you can't reason that way... but that way of thinking might ease me out of the white knuckles on approach. ;)

It seems that getting to and from the lovely mountains around the world is as risky as actually climbing to the summit. Anyway, two more weeks of training, then I'm of for the big adventure! If all goes well it might be a new altitude record for Subsim this time.

cheers porphy

[Skybird]

Thanks! Today at least 15 flights landed in Lukla without a hitch. Statistics should now be in my favor, but as we all now you can't reason that way... but that way of thinking might ease me out of the white knuckles on approach. ;)
On the other hand those statistics say that this year 9 incidents have been reported, although none of them compare to this drama now. :sunny: Let's face it, Porphy, it is an extremely dangeropus approach, and if you land there, you should know what you are in for, statistically.

the plane crashed due to sudden fog interrupted the sight to the runway. the pilot misestimated altitude and distance and thus hit the mountain before the runway began, because he thought it would be there. Being too low too early, that is also the reason why he razored that fence before the runway. that damn runway also raises by 15%, the planes thus have to land with a much higher AoA.

Did you know the place is so small and crowded that they cannot park more than 4 aircraft at a time? :lol: And these four have to taxi absolutely precisely, or they damage all other three. Crazy place! Monthy Python would have enjoyed it!

[kranz]

tragedy indeed but where is "Lukla" ??

[Task Force]

Dont think id be booking a airplane ride there.:lol: :huh:

[Skybird]

tragedy indeed but where is "Lukla" ??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lukla