Main Cause of Shree Airlines Crash: Excessive Pitch Rate, Not Technical Fault
Kathmandu, 18 Jul: The Shree Airlines CRJ aircraft accident that occurred on 9th Shrawan 2081 (July 24, 2024) during a flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara for a scheduled C-check was not caused by a technical malfunction, but rather pilot error, according to the official investigation report released today.
The final draft report published Friday by the Accident Investigation Commission—formed by the Government of Nepal—concluded that the crash was triggered when the pilot raised the aircraft’s nose excessively during takeoff, resulting in an excessive pitch rate. This led to a loss of airspeed and eventually caused the aircraft to enter a deep stall, leading to the crash.
Excessive pitch rate occurs when the nose of the aircraft is lifted beyond acceptable safety limits during flight.
In such conditions, the aircraft’s speed drops, and it can enter a deep stall — a critical state where airflow over the wings is disrupted due to the steep angle, rendering the aircraft unable to climb and causing it to fall abruptly like a rock.
The report clearly states that the pilot-induced excessive pitch caused aerodynamic stall, and not any technical or mechanical issue.
During takeoff, a CRJ aircraft typically requires a pitch rate of 3 degrees per second. However, the investigation revealed that on the day of the Shree Airlines crash, the aircraft’s pitch rate reached 5.5 degrees per second, which is considered excessive, as stated in the official report.
The Accident Investigation Commission also discovered that other flights operated by Shree Airlines showed a pattern of exceeding the standard pitch rate during takeoff. The report notes that:
“Analysis of past flight data from the crashed aircraft and other CRJ-200 aircraft in Shree Airlines’ fleet revealed that pilots frequently applied a pitch (rotation) rate higher than the recommended 3 degrees per second during liftoff. This is a serious cause for concern.”
This consistent deviation from standard flight procedures has raised safety alarms regarding the airline’s operating practices and pilot training.
According to data retrieved from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR)—commonly referred to as the black box—collected after the crash, the captain involved in the recent Shree Airlines accident had previously flown the same aircraft on Chaitra 11, 2080 (March 24, 2024) with a pitch rate of 5.5 degrees per second, the same excessive rotation rate seen during the crash. That flight narrowly avoided a serious incident.
The Accident Investigation Commission found that the aircraft involved in the crash, registered as 9N-AME (Nine November–Alpha Mike Echo), had been operated 18 times between 2023 and 2024 with similarly excessive pitch rates by various pilots.
The report stated that in all of these instances, the rotation rate exceeded 4 degrees per second, which is above the safe threshold.
“The highest recorded pitch rate was 5.8 degrees per second in January 2024, while the pitch rate in the current crash—5.5 degrees—was the second highest recorded by the same pilot,” the report notes.
These findings point to a repeated procedural deviation and highlight a serious concern about pilot discipline and oversight within the airline.
On the day of the crash, the co-pilot, who was in the “Pilot Monitoring” role, noticed that the aircraft was being rotated too steeply by the captain (Pilot Flying) during takeoff. Instead of issuing a clear directive like “reduce pitch,” the co-pilot responded with a vague and unclear reaction — reportedly saying, “Wa… wa… sir… sir… sir…” — according to the final report released by the government-appointed Accident Investigation Commission.
The 50-seater Canadian Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft of Saurya Airlines was on a non-commercial ferry flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara on Shrawan 9, 2081 (July 24, 2024) for C-check maintenance when it crashed within the premises of Tribhuvan International Airport. Eighteen people were killed on the spot, including 12 engineers and technicians from Saurya Airlines. Captain Manish Ratna Shakya, who had logged 6,185 flying hours, survived but remains grounded. The airline has since been barred from commercial flights.
The aircraft was completely destroyed by fire. The crash also damaged equipment and a station of Air Dynasty Helicopters located near the crash site. An initial report had been released 44 days later on Bhadra 20, 2081 (September 5, 2024), which had suspected weight imbalance as a possible cause. However, the final report rules out weight as a factor, stating:
“There is no clear evidence that the aircraft’s Center of Gravity (CG) was abnormal due to weight distribution. Hence, weight imbalance is not considered a primary cause of the crash.”
Instead, the excessive pitch rate was confirmed as the main cause. A standard pitch rate for CRJ aircraft during takeoff is 3 degrees per second, but during the accident, it reached 5.5 degrees per second, causing a deep stall — a condition where the aircraft loses lift due to airflow disruption over the wings, often leading to a nosedive.
Contributing Factors Highlighted in the Report:
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Faulty speed cards: The aircraft’s speed reference card used by the pilots had long-standing errors in the V-speeds (V1, VR, V2), critical speeds used during takeoff. These had never been corrected by the operator.
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Failure to address recurring high pitch rates: The operator failed to identify or resolve the recurring issue of high pitch rates observed in previous flights.
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Lack of proper loading procedures: Cargo weights were entered without actual weighing, and items were not tied down securely.
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Carrying hazardous chemicals: Highly flammable and dangerous chemicals were found stored in the aircraft galley.
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Poor planning and rushed flight execution: The ferry flight was hastily prepared, violating safety norms.
Gaps in Oversight and Regulation:
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The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) lacks a clear procedure for authorizing non-commercial ferry flights.
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Aircraft loading processes are not properly monitored.
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There are no laws prohibiting non-commercial passengers from boarding non-revenue flights.
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Lack of proper equipment to inspect speed cards.
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The airport’s emergency gates were found blocked with construction materials.
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Technicians involved in rescue lacked advanced training and resources.
The aircraft had not flown for 34 days prior to this flight and was confirmed to be airworthy. The crash occurred just 4 seconds after takeoff from Kathmandu.
Background:
This was Nepal’s 109th air crash in 70 years. The government formed a 5-member commission led by former CAAN Director-General Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, which submitted its report to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation on Shrawan 2, 2082 Friday (July 18, 2025).
