Region
Asia

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-10-DC Skymaster on the Mt Hirugatake: 35 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1950 at 2325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72704
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Clark – Kadena – Tachikawa
MSN:
10809
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt Hirugatake
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
35
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Clark AFB in Manila to Tachikawa AFB in Tokyo with an intermediate stop in Kadena AFB, Okinawa. On the second leg, while approaching Tachikawa AFB by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and rain falls. While descending to an altitude of 5,000 feet, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of the Mt Hirugatake (1,279 meters high) located 34 km southwest of the Tachikawa AFB. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 35 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
While approaching Tachikawa AFB, the crew reported his position over the O-Shama radio range station at an altitude of 5,000 feet. Probably due to a navigation error, the aircraft was in reality 40 km more south of this position.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK near Nagoya: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1950 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49915
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Iwakuni – Komaki
MSN:
15731/27176
YOM:
1945
Location:
Nagoya-Komaki
Chūbu
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was approaching Komaki AFB in Nagoya after a training sortie. While cruising by night, the aircraft crashed in a mountain area located 42 km southeast of the airbase. A crew member was seriously injured while three other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Canadair C-4 North Star in Tokyo

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Canadair C-4 North Star
Operator:
Registration:
CF-CPR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Vancouver – Tokyo
MSN:
148
YOM:
1949
Location:
Tokyo-Haneda
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown in Haneda Airport, the four engine aircraft christened 'Empress of Vancouver' encountered difficulties to stop. It overran and eventually plunged into the bay of Tokyo. All 15 occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Naha: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77335
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
32731
YOM:
1944
Location:
Naha
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Naha Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed. Six passengers were killed while 16 other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster near Atsugi: 41 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1947 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72553
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Seoul – Tachikawa
MSN:
10658
YOM:
1945
Location:
Atsugi NAS
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
41
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Seoul-Kimpo to Tachikawa AFB with several US officers and five civilians on board. While approaching the Tokyo area by night and from the southwest, the crew completed a turn at an altitude of 1,500 meters in marginal weather conditions when the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located west of the city of Atsugi, about 30 km southwest of Tachikawa AFB. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and burned completely. All 41 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was 10 km with cumulus and altostratus between 1,000 and 2,500 meters.
Probable cause:
Apparently following an inappropriate flight planing, or maybe due to a lack of concentration or situational awareness, the crew did not check their instruments properly and failed to recognize that they were following a wrong heading to land at Tachikawa AFB. It is possible that strong winds (up to 40 knots at the time of the accident) may contribute to the deviation of the approach path.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-50-DL Invader in Matsudo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-34231
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
27500
Location:
Matsudo
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Matsudo, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
Cpt Archibald R. Day,
S/Sgt Samuel H. Monella,
Sgt Charles A. Groover.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Osaka: 24 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1946 at 1310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-78604
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tachikawa – Osaka – Fukuoka
MSN:
22427
YOM:
1945
Location:
Osaka-Itami
Kansai
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 32, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked left and right, then nosed down and crashed in a paddy field. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 24 occupants, among them 3 civilians, were killed. The crew was completing a mail flight from Tachikawa AFB to Fukuoka with an intermediate stop in Osaka-Itami Airport. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were considered as marginal and it is believed that the left engine was not running at impact for reason that could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando off Iwo Jima: 23 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1946 at 2330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-78691
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Agana - Iwo Jima
MSN:
22514
YOM:
1945
Location:
Iwo Jima
All Japan
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
On approach to Iwo Jima Island by night, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Pacific Ocean about 15 miles offshore. All 23 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK Dakota IV in Miho

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN529
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16331/33079
YOM:
1945
Location:
Miho
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew encountered control problems and was forced to divert to Miho Airfield. On final approach, the aircraft stalled and hit the ground few hundred yards short of runway threshold. On impact, undercarriage were sheared off and the aircraft slid on its belly before coming to rest. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It appears that the elevator were still locked, forcing the crew to divert for an emergency landing.
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