Region
Asia

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-20-DT Invader near Niihama: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
43-22411
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
18558
YOM:
1943
Location:
Niihama
Shikoku
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was performing a flight to Iwakuni AFB when it hit the slope of a mountain located about 30 km southeast of Niihama. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-20-CU Commando in Tachikawa AFB

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-78473
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
22296
YOM:
1945
Location:
Tachikawa AFB (Tokyo)
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
All occupants decided to abandon the aircraft after an engine failed in flight. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed about 10 km northeast of Tachikawa AFB. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-4 Neptune off Naha: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
124227
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Naha - Naha
Location:
Naha
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Naha Airport runway 36, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked right and crashed into the sea about one km north of the airfield. Eleven crew members were seriously injured while two others were killed. It appears that the pilot in command lost control of the aircraft when the right engine failed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine shortly after rotation.

Crash of a Grumman SA-16A Albatross in Tsushima

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
49-083
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
G-41
Location:
Tsushima
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Tsushima Airport, on Tsushima Island. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5S Mariner off Amami Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
84662
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Amami (Amami-Ōshima Island)
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training flight in the region of the Amami Islands. Upon landing on sea, the seaplane overturned and sank. All seven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-50-DT Invader off Natsui-gawa: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-35922
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
29201
YOM:
1944
Location:
Natsui-gawa
Tōhoku
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances about 11 km off Natsui-gawa. Some debris were found few hours later by fishermen but no trace of the four crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-10-DC Skymaster in Ashiya AFB

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72690
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10795
YOM:
1945
Location:
Ashiya AFB
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed in poor weather conditions. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando on Mt Fuji: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
XT-852
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
22449
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt Fuji
Chūbu
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a liaison flight between Tachikawa AFB and Korea. While cruising at an altitude of 8,000 feet in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Fuji and was destroyed upon impact. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Robert Heising, pilot,
Jimmy W. H. Chang, copilot,
T. W. Wen, radio operator.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5A Mariner off Sasebo

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
122077
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
122077
Location:
Sasebo
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The heavy seaplane was engaged in a training mission out from the USS Kearsarge. While landing into the bay off Sasebo, the aircraft landed hard, came to rest and sank. All nine crew members were rescued while the airplane was lost.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-65-BN Superfortress in Kadena AFB

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-62152
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
11629
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kadena AFB
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. There were no casualties.
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