Japan | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after takeoff from Ashiya AFB, while climbing, the aircraft suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed into the sea about 9 km north of the airfield. All occupants were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a De Havilland L-20A Beaver in Japan

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1954

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Operator:

Registration:

51-16500

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

MSN:

276

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Weather conditions deteriorated enroute and the pilot lost his orientation. Due to fuel exhaustion, the pilot and the passenger eventually bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a field somewhere in Japan (exact place remains unknown). The airplane was destroyed while both occupants, pilot David Forbes and Henry H. Hansen, were unhurt.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK in Nagoya

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-49083

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

14899/26344

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crash landed in unclear circumstances. No casualties.

Crash of a Beechcraft C18S Expeditor in Aizuwakamatsu: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft C18S

Operator:

Aoki Aviation

Registration:

JA5002

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Tokyo – Sapporo

MSN:

6176

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft left Tokyo-Haneda Airport on a flight to Sapporo-Chitose when the pilot encountered marginal weather conditions in the region of Aizuwakamatsu. The airplane hit the slope of a mountain and was destroyed upon impact, killing all five occupants.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S off Tokyo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Registration:

JA5012

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Tokyo - Tokyo

MSN:

A-0975

YOM:

1953

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The crew (two technicians and two pilots) were conducting a post maintenance test flight when the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Tokyo Bay. The aircraft sank and was lost and all four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5S2 Mariner on Yakushima Island: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Martin PBM Mariner

Operator:

Registration:

84779

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Iwakuni – Hong Kong

MSN:

84779

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Enroute from Iwakuni to Hong Kong, the airplane hit the slope of a mountain located on Yakushima Island. All 17 occupants have been killed. For unknown reason, the crew did not realize his altitude was insufficient and failed to sea the mountain.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK off Iwakuni AFB

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1954 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

A65-120

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

16713/33461

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Iwakuni AFB, while climbing to an altitude of 300 feet, the left engine caught fire. The crew lost control of the airplane that crashed into the sea about 1,500 meters offshore. Both pilots were injured while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Port engine fire after takeoff.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-90-BW Superfortress near Nagoya: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Operator:

Registration:

44-87742

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

12545

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Nagoya-Komaki Airport, while on a refueling mission, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. Six crew members were able to bail out before the airplane crashed in a huge explosion about 25 km southwest of the airport. The five crewmen who remained in the aircraft were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas JD-1 Invader in Ashiya: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

77175

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Ashiya - Ashiya

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at Ashiya AFB. During an ILS approach by night, the airplane hit a ridge located few km from the airfield and was destroyed. All four crew members were killed.