Yeti 691 – Pokhara Feathering Stall
Date of Incident: January 15, 2023
Location: Pokhara, Nepal – Seti River Gorge
🧭 What Happened
Yeti Airlines Flight 691, an ATR 72-500, crashed during final approach to Pokhara International Airport. The instructor pilot inadvertently feathered both propellers instead of extending flaps, resulting in total thrust loss. The aircraft stalled and crashed into the Seti River gorge, killing all 72 onboard. It was Nepal’s deadliest domestic aviation accident and the worst involving an ATR 72.
✈️ Aircraft Details
Flight Number: YT691 / NYT691
Aircraft Type: ATR 72-500
Registration: 9N-ANC
Route: Kathmandu (VNKT) → Pokhara (VNPR)
Fatalities: 72 (68 passengers, 4 crew)
Survivors: 0
🔍 Key Factors
- Instructor pilot mistakenly moved condition levers instead of flap lever
- Both propellers feathered, eliminating thrust
- Master caution triggered but not acted upon
- Crew failed to recognize loss of power until final seconds
- Approach was unstabilized and non-standard for runway 12
📆 Timeline of Events
- 05:47 UTC – Departure from Kathmandu
- 06:26 UTC – Flaps 15, gear down
- 06:27:32 UTC – PF calls “Flaps 30”; PM feathers props by mistake
- 06:27:36 UTC – Master caution chime
- 06:28:07 UTC – PF reports “no power from engines”
- 06:28:24 UTC – Stick shaker activates
- 06:28:32 UTC – Aircraft rolls left and crashes
🎙️ Cockpit Voice & Flight Data
“Flaps 30 and descending.” — PM
“No power from engines!” — PF
The CVR captured checklist calls, confusion over engine response, and final exclamations. The FDR showed both propellers feathered, torque at 0%, and no thrust despite throttle advancement. The stick shaker activated twice before impact.
⚙️ Aircraft Systems & Failures
- Condition levers feathered both propellers manually
- Feathering disables thrust even with throttle input
- Flap lever misidentified due to proximity and workload
- No automated alert for dual feathering in flight
- Approach circuit lacked regulatory approval
🛡️ Aftermath and Reforms
- National day of mourning declared in Nepal
- Flight 691 memorial established near Seti Gorge
- Final report released December 2023
- Recommendations for CRM, SOP compliance, and visual approach validation
- Simulator training mandated for Pokhara runway 12 operations