Region
Asia

Crash of a Douglas C-47D in Fukuoka: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1957 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49792
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
MSN:
15608/27053
YOM:
1945
Location:
Fukuoka
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
In unclear circumstances, the C-47 collided with a USAF North American F-100 Super Sabre over the city of Fukuoka. While the pilot of the fighter was able to land at Fukuoka-Itazuke Airport, the C-47 crashed onto two vacant houses. All three crew members were killed and there was no injuries on the ground.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar at Ashiya AFB

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1956 at 0724 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
53-3150
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ashiya – Busan East
MSN:
11161
YOM:
1953
Location:
Ashiya AFB
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2079
Captain / Total hours on type:
2058.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2782
Copilot / Total hours on type:
891
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on runway 30 at Ashiya Airbase, at a speed of 70 knots, the right engine lost power. The captain decided to abandon the departure and started an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance (runway 30 is 6,000 feet long), the airplane overran, lost its undercarriage and came to a halt in a grassy area. All seven crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of power on right engine for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D on Mt Fuji

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
44-77094
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
16678/33426
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt Fuji
Chūbu
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances on the slope of Mt Fuji. Both crewmen were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar in Kagoshima

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
52-5881
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
11048
YOM:
1952
Location:
Kagoshima
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failed in flight. As the crew was unable to feather the propeller, they decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in Kagoshima. All five crew members were found uninjured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-124 Globemaster II in Iwo Jima: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1955 at 1859 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
Operator:
Registration:
51-0149
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Iwo Jima - Tachikawa
MSN:
43483
YOM:
1951
Location:
Iwo Jima
All Japan
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a flight from Iwo Jima to Tachikawa, carrying two passengers, nine crew members and a load of various goods for a total weight of 24,892 lbs. After a run of 3,500 feet on runway 07, the four engine aircraft rotated and continued to climb to a height of 100 feet when it banked to the left, causing the left wing tip to hit the ground. Out of control, the airplane crashed in a huge explosion and disintegrated on impact. A passenger survived while all ten other occupants were killed. Sixteen days later, on December 6, the only survivor died of his injuries.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control during initial climb was caused by a malfunction of the number one engine propeller that went into reverse after an electrical short-circuit occurred.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon in Kanoya AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Harpoon
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kanoya - Kanoya
Location:
Kanoya AFB
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Kanoya AFB, after completing a local training sortie, the airplane went out of control and crashed about 500 meters short of runway. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-40-BN Superfortress in Naha: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-61677
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kadena - Kadena
MSN:
11154
YOM:
1944
Location:
Naha
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training sortie out from Kadena AFB. After completing low-level maneuvers, the crew was trying to get height when, flying in clouds, the airplane struck a hill located 5 km southeast of Naha. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all ten crew members were killed.
Crew (581st Air Resupply Group):
Victor C. Marston 9.

Crash of a De Havilland L-20A Beaver near Mito

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1955
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
53-8165
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
663
YOM:
1954
Location:
Mito
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed in the region of Mito, maybe following an engine failure. The pilot John W. Culpepper was uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119G-FA Flying Boxcar at Matsushima AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
51-8085
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10979
YOM:
1952
Location:
Matsushima AFB
Tōhoku
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff following an engine failure. At least one crew member was killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure at takeoff.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar off Ashiya AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
52-5886
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Ashiya - Ashiya
MSN:
11053
YOM:
1952
Location:
Ashiya AFB
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Ashiya AFB, the right propeller malfunctioned and control was lost. Five crew members were able to bail out before the airplane crashed in the sea some 33 km north of the airfield. Four crew members were rescued by the crew of a Japanese fishing boat while both pilots and a third occupant were killed, among them Robert Sullivan.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following a right propeller malfunction.
Final Report:
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