Zone
Hokkaidō

Crash of a Beechcraft LR-2 Hayabusa near Assabu: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 2017 at 1147 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 350 Super King Air
Operator:
Registration:
23057
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Sapporo – Hakodate
MSN:
FL-677
YOM:
2009
Location:
Assabu
Hokkaidō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The Beechcraft LR-2 Hayabusa (a version of the Beechcraft 350 Super King Air) departed Sapporo-Okadama Airport at 1123LT on a flight to Hakodate to evacuate a patient. On board were two doctors and two pilots. While descending to Hakodate at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and rain showers when the airplane registered 23057 (JG-3057) impacted the slope of a mountain located near Assabu, about 40 km northwest of Hakodate Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all four occupants were killed.

Crash of a NAMC YS-11A-213 in Sapporo

Date & Time: Feb 16, 2000 at 1243 LT
Type of aircraft:
NAMC YS-11
Operator:
Registration:
JA8727
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Hakodate - Sapporo
MSN:
2095
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
EL354
Location:
Sapporo-Okadama
Hokkaidō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Sapporo-Okadama, the aircraft was too high on the glide and approached at an excessive speed. It landed too far down a snow covered runway and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, collided with snow bank and came to rest. All 41 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who completed the approach at an excessive speed and above the glide, causing the aircraft to land too far down the runway. The following findings were identified:
- The aircraft speed was 23 knots higher than the reference speed above threshold,
- Excessive speed upon touchdown,
- The braking action was reduced because the runway surface was contaminated with snow,
- The aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure while the landing was obviously missed,
- Marginal weather conditions,
- Poor crew coordination,
- Poor airspeed monitoring on part of the flying crew.
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