Japan | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after takeoff from Oita-Iki Airport, while in initial climb at a height of 150 feet, the airplane stalled and crashed. All six occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed. It appears the takeoff was attempted with one engine voluntarily inoperative. The crew apparently underestimated the aircraft performances and was overconfident.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 on Mt Nakanoone: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1965

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

JA5080

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Osaka – Tokyo

MSN:

4436

YOM:

1942

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Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 2,200 meters in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Nakanoone located some 65 km northeast of Hamamatsu. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was found on 29 December 1966 in an isolated area. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando in Tokyo

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

51-1107

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

33503

YOM:

1945

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Circumstances:

The aircraft belly landed at Tokyo-Haneda Airport for unknown reason. All four crew members who were completing a training flight were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando in Okayama

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

51-1121

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Okayama - Okayama

MSN:

33455

YOM:

1945

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training mission at Okayama Airport and the aircraft belly landed for unknown reason. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing KB-50D-125-BO Stratofortress near Fukushima: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-50 Superfortress

Operator:

Registration:

49-0377

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Misawa - Yokota

MSN:

16153

YOM:

1949

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was on its way from Misawa AFB to Yokota AFB with 11 crew members on board. Following an uneventful refuelling mission, something went wrong and the airplane went out of control. Four crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a mountainous area located in the region of Fukushima. The seven crew members who remained in the cabin were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver off Minamikomatsu

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1964

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Operator:

Registration:

JA3043

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

446

YOM:

1953

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Circumstances:

The airplane was involved in the surveillance of a swimming area in the Biwa Lake when it crashed in unknown circumstances few hundred yards off Minamikomatsu. The crew fate remains uncertain.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules at Ieshima AFB

Date & Time: May 2, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

56-0492

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

3100

YOM:

1957

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll, the engine number one failed. The crew elected to abandon the takeoff procedure but due to asymmetric thrust, the airplane deviated from the centerline, veered off runway to the left and came to rest in a grassy area. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the engine number during takeoff roll.

Crash of a Convair CV-240-0 in Oita: 20 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Convair CV-240

Operator:

Registration:

JA5098

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Kagoshima – Oita

MSN:

YOM:

1948

Flight number:

FUJ902

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Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Kagoshima, the airplane landed on runway 02 at Oita Airport. After touchdown, it encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest in a dump located 124 meters further. 22 occupants were injured and 20 others, among them two crew members, were killed.

Probable cause:

The overlapping effects of excessive air speed in touchdown, inoperative propeller reversing, insufficient effect of the foot brake and the counter effect of the second reversing operations, although it is very difficult to judge to what degree any of the above-mentioned causes affect this accident.

Crash of a Grumman G-73 Mallard in Osaka: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-73 Mallard

Operator:

Registration:

JA5067

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

J-40

YOM:

1948

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Osaka-Itami Airport, the crew encountered engine problems. The seaplane stalled and crashed in a rice paddy field. Two occupants were killed while eight others were injured.

Probable cause:

Engine problems after takeoff.