Region
Asia

Crash of a Douglas R5D-3 in Okinawa

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
50872
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10558
YOM:
1945
Location:
Okinawa
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Okinawa-Yontan Airport, the four engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer in the Tokyo Bay: 13 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
Registration:
59497
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tinian - Tinian
MSN:
59497
YOM:
1943
Location:
Tokyo
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
15
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The crew left Tinian Island bound for Tokyo to perform aerial photography of the Japanese Imperial fleet based in the Tokyo Bay. While overflying the Tokyo Bay at a height of 500 feet, the seaplane was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire and crashed into the bay. Two crew members were rescued while 13 others were killed
Probable cause:
Shot down by Japanese fire.

Crash of a Mitsubishi MC-20-1 off Chiba: 13 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Mitsubishi MC-20
Operator:
Registration:
J-BGON
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tokyo - Tokyo
MSN:
104
Location:
Chiba
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Tokyo on a local test flight on behalf of the Japan Civil Aviation Authority. While flying off Chiba, it went out of control and crashed into the Bay of Tokyo. All 13 occupants were killed, among them Shikasaburo Yamakawa, Chief of Inspectors of the Bureau of Civil Aviation.

Crash of a Nakajima AT-2 on Uotsuri Island

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Nakajima AT-2
Operator:
Registration:
J-BBOT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Fukuoka – Naha – Taipei
MSN:
6
YOM:
1936
Location:
Uotsuri Island
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Naha to Taipei, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and made an emergency landing on Uotsuri Island, in the Pacific. All 13 occupants were rescued the following day.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-WG3B Super Electra in Fukuoka: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
J-BCOZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fukuoka – Seoul
Location:
Fukuoka
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after liftoff from Fukuoka Airport, the twin engine airplane collided with the perimeter fence and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot, the mechanic and four passengers were killed while five other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Nakajima AT-2 off Kuba Island: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1938 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Nakajima AT-2
Operator:
Registration:
J-BDOH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Fukuoka – Taipeh
MSN:
1418.1
Location:
Kuba Island
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While cruising over the East China Sea, the crew encountered technical problems with an engine. The pilot elected to divert to Naha but eventually ditched the airplane off Kuba Island, Okinawa. Two passengers were rescued while 10 others occupants were killed. The aircraft named 'Fuji' was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Douglas DF-151 on Mt Sefuri: 15 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DF-151
Operator:
Registration:
J-ANET
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
2
YOM:
1936
Location:
Mt Sefuri
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The float plane crash on Mt Sefuri located 20 km south of Fukuoka. All 15 occupants were killed. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown, somewhere in September 1938.

Crash of a Fokker Super Universal in Tokyo: 83 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1938 at 0855 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker Super Universal
Operator:
Registration:
J-BJDO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Tokyo - Tokyo
MSN:
875
YOM:
1929
Location:
Tokyo
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
85
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Tokyo-Haneda Airport at 0850LT on a local training flight, carrying three crew members. Weather conditions were marginal with a limited visibility caused by fog. Five minutes after takeoff, while completing an approach to Haneda Airport, the airplane collided with a Mitsubishi Ki-1 (Hanriot HD-14) that was also completing a local training flight out from Tokyo-Haneda Airport. Registered J-BIDH and operated by the Japan Flying School, the aircraft was carrying two pilots, one student and one instructor. Following the collision, the Mitsubishi dove into the ground and crashed onto a house located in the district of Morigasaki. Out of control, the Fokker crashed on the factory of the Yamamoto Rush Manufacturing Company also located in the district of Morigasaki, less than 3 km northwest of Haneda Airport. Both pilots on board the Mitsubishi were killed. All three crew on board the Fokker were killed as well as 80 people on the ground, most of them employees of the YRMC and/or locals who wanted to take part to rescue operations.
Fokker crew:
Haruo Tanaka, instructor,
Tadashi Sakai, student pilot,
Ryosaku Aoki, student pilot.
Mitsubishi crew:
Toshio Fujita, instructor,
Bunzo Ito, student pilot.
Probable cause:
It was established that the collision occurred in a limited visibility due to fog in the area of the Haneda Airport. The crew of the Fokker was supposed to complete a touch and go manoeuvre but instead initiated a go around procedure when the collision occurred, probably after cutting the trajectory of the Mitsubishi.
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