Zone
Kantō

Crash of a Kawasaki C-1 at Iruma AFB

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Kawasaki C-1
Operator:
Registration:
58-1010
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Iruma - Iruma
MSN:
8010
Location:
Iruma AFB (Johnson AFB), Sayama
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Iruma AFB in heavy snow falls, control was lost. The aircraft veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and slid for about 500 meters before coming to rest with its both wings torn off. All seven crew members were injured.

Crash of a Kawasaki C-1 on Suga Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1983 at 0720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Kawasaki C-1
Operator:
Registration:
68-1015
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Komaki - Iruma
MSN:
8015
Location:
Suga Island
Kansai
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Nagoya-Komaki on a flight to Iruma AFB with four other similar airplanes. While approaching the Suga Island, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to low ceiling, heavy rain falls and fog. While cruising at an altitude of 600 feet under a special VFR clearance, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (1,018 meters high), killing all six crew members. A second Kawasaki C-1 crashed in similar conditions, killing all eight crew members while a third airplane struck tree tops but was able to complete an emergency landing on the nearest airport.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Kawasaki C-1 on Suga Island: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1983 at 0720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Kawasaki C-1
Operator:
Registration:
58-1009
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Komaki - Iruma
MSN:
8009
Location:
Suga Island
Kansai
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Nagoya-Komaki on a flight to Iruma AFB with four other similar airplanes. While approaching the Suga Island, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to low ceiling, heavy rain falls and fog. While cruising at an altitude of 600 feet under a special VFR clearance, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (1,018 meters high), killing all eight crew members. A second Kawasaki C-1 crashed in similar conditions, killing all six crew members while a third airplane struck tree tops but was able to complete an emergency landing on the nearest airport.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-65-BA Superfortress in Iruma AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-84124
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Iruma AFB (Johnson AFB), Sayama
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, both right engines number three and four failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located five km southeast of the airbase. Three crew members were killed while eight others were seriously injured. It is reported that the electrical system failed as well.

Crash of a Boeing RB-29A-50-BN Superfortress in Johnson AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1950 at 0925 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-61813
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Iruma (Johnson) - Iruma (Johnson)
MSN:
11290
YOM:
1944
Location:
Iruma AFB (Johnson AFB), Sayama
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft had been taking reconnaissance photos over the Yalu River at the China/Korean border. The plane was attacked by two Soviet MiG-15's (Maj A. Z. Bordun and St/Lt L. M. Dimchenko) and was severely damaged. Two of the engines on the left side had been shot up and were no longer operating. The crew managed to creep home to Johnson AFB (Iruma AFB). Upon their final approach for a crash landing the nose of the aircraft suddenly dove into the ground. Upon crashing, the plane split in half and the wings crashed over the front section, killing all but one occupant of the cockpit. The lone survivor from the cockpit was Harry Lavene who had been the tail gunner. While being attacked, military records shows that he was the first enlisted man to shoot down a MiG-15 from a B-29.
Source:
http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_4.html
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