Zone
Kantō

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-61 in Shanghai

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1982 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-8
Operator:
Registration:
JA8048
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Shanghai - Tokyo
MSN:
46160
YOM:
1971
Flight number:
JL792
Location:
Shanghai-Hongqiao
Shanghai
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
113
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Shanghai-Hongqiao Airport at 1357LT on a flight to Tokyo, carrying 113 passengers and a crew of 11. Nine minutes after takeoff, the crew heard a strange noise coming from the lower middle part of the aircraft. This was immediately followed by a hydraulic low level warning, a hydraulic reservoir air low pressure warning, a complete loss of hydraulic system pressure, abnormal flap position indications, and a complete loss of air brake pressure. The crew elected to return to Shanghai for a emergency landing. The DC-8 touched down fast on runway 36, overran and came to rest in a drainage ditch. All 124 occupants were evacuated, 23 of them were injured.
Probable cause:
The explosion of the air brake bottle damaging 13 hydraulic system tubes and 2 emergency air brake system tubes, some of which resulted in the failure of extension of flaps and a loss of normal as well as emergency wheel braking, thus increasing the roll after touchdown distance to a value greater than available runway and stop way length. These factors prevented the captain from stopping the aircraft within the runway and stop way confines.

Crash of a Boeing 727-281 near SHizukuishi: 162 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1971 at 1402 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-200
Operator:
Registration:
JA8329
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Sapporo - Tokyo
MSN:
20436/788
YOM:
1971
Flight number:
NH058
Location:
Shizukuishi
Tōhoku
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
155
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
162
Aircraft flight hours:
865
Circumstances:
The Boeing 727 departed Sapporo-Chitose Airport on a regular schedule flight to Tokyo-Haneda, carrying a crew of 7 and 155 passengers. While cruising at 28,000 feet, the airplane collided with a Japan Air-Self Defence Force North American F-86F Sabre registered 92-7932 and carrying a crew of two. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous area located south of Shizukuishi. While both military pilots were able to eject and were uninjured, all 162 occupants on board the 727 were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the military pilot under training failed to see and avoid other traffic while conducting a training mission. Relatively inexperienced, the trainee pilot had a total of 25 flying hours and delayed a corrective manoeuvre as ordered by his instructor. This caused the right wing of the Sabre to struck the horizontal stabilizer of the B727.
The following factors were identified:
- The instructor continued the training flight without noticing that he had left the training airspace and entered the jet route J11L.
- It is estimated that the All Nippon Airways pilots saw the training aircraft at least 7 seconds before the collision, but the avoidance operation was not performed until just before the collision. This is probably because the ANA pilot did not anticipate the collision.
- For the instructor, the trainee's instruction to avoid a collision was shortly given to the trainee immediately before he saw the ANA aircraft, and he could not avoid the trainee's collision. This is probably because the instructor was unable to see the ANA aircraft.
- About two seconds before the collision, the trainee visually recognized the ANA aircraft slightly to the right of the accident aircraft, and immediately performed an avoidance operation, but was unable to avoid the collision. It is considered that this is because the trainee had little experience in this manoeuvre and was mainly devoted to maintaining the relative position with the instructor aircraft, and it was delayed in observing the ANA aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 707-321C at Elmendorf AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1968 at 0615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 707
Operator:
Registration:
N799PA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Francisco – Elmendorf – Tokyo – Đà Nẵng – Cam Ranh Bay
MSN:
18824/397
YOM:
1964
Flight number:
PA799
Location:
Elmendorf-Richardson AFB (JBER)
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
15207
Captain / Total hours on type:
3969.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
9813
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2813
Circumstances:
The aircraft christened 'Clipper Racer' departed San Francisco on a cargo flight to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam with en route stops at Elmendorf AFB, Tokyo and Đà Nẵng. Because of below minima weather at Anchorage International Airport, the aircraft landed at Elmendorf AFB. Several delays were experienced before the flight taxied out at 06:02. Flight 799 was given a void time of 06:15 by Oceanic Control to avoid traffic conflict. If the crew failed to make that time, it would result in a 45 min delay. When the checklist item "wing flaps" was called, the 'follow me' truck arrived to guide them to runway 23. From then on the crew were busy steering the plane on the slippery taxiways and talking to Oceanic Control resp. The aircraft was cleared for takeoff at 06:14. The stick shaker sounded shortly after VR (154 kts). The aircraft rotated climbed slowly. The right wing contacted the snow covered ground 94 feet left of the extended centerline at a distance of 2760 feet from the runway. The aircraft rolled inverted and broke up.
Probable cause:
An attempted takeoff with the flaps in a retracted position. This resulted from a combination of factors:
- Inadequate cockpit checklist and procedures,
- A warning system inadequacy associated with cold weather operations,
- Ineffective control practices regarding manufacturer's Service Bulletins,
- Stresses imposed upon the crew by their attempts to meet an air traffic control deadline.
Final Report:

Crash of a Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair in Karachi: 13 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair
Operator:
Registration:
F-BMHU
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Karachi - Tokyo
MSN:
4/10338
YOM:
1962
Location:
Karachi-Muhammad Ali Jinnah-Quaid-e-Azam
Sindh (سنڌ سندھ)
Country:
Pakistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height when it struck a bridge over Drig Road and crashed. All six crew members and seven people on the ground were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine during initial climb while the left engine did not provide sufficient power.

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:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tokyo - Tokyo
MSN:
A-0975
YOM:
1953
Location:
Tokyo
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
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 Douglas C-47D into the Tokyo Bay

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49084
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
14900/26345
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tokyo
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Inbound from Korea, the crew was descending to Tachikawa AFB when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Tokyo Bay. The aircraft was lost and all four crew members were rescued.

Crash of a Martin 202 on Mt Mihara: 37 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1952 at 0807 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin 202
Operator:
Registration:
N93043
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tokyo – Osaka – Fukuoka
MSN:
9164
YOM:
1947
Location:
Mt Mihara (Oshima Island)
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Circumstances:
En route from Tokyo to Osaka, while cruising about 100 km south of Tokyo in marginal weather conditions, the airplane christened 'Mokusei' (Jupiter) hit the slope of the Mt Mihara (volcano) located on the Oshima Island. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 37 occupants have been killed. Apparently, the airplane was off course at the time of the accident, most probably due to a navigational error on part of the crew.
Probable cause:
Although the Japanese government aircraft accident investigation committee conducted a thorough investigation, it encountered some difficulty because of the rejection by the Occupation authorities of a request from the committee to provide a tape recording of instructions to the distressed aircraft from the Haneda Airport control tower. As a result, the accident investigation was closed with the aviation agency's report that the probable cause was the pilot's operational error.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D off Oshima Island: 25 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1950 at 0430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
44-76439
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tokyo – Kagoshima – Okinawa
MSN:
16023/32771
YOM:
1945
Location:
Ōshima Island
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
Twenty minutes after its departure from Tokyo-Haneda Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 3,500 feet in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control, went into a dive and crashed into the sea about 10 miles south of the Oshima Island. A passenger was rescued while all 25 other occupants were killed when the aircraft sank to a depth of 1,500 meters. According to the testimony of the only survivor, the aircraft encountered turbulences while flying into adverse weather conditions and thunderstorm activity. Several electrical problems occurred with the light coming on and off in the cabin shortly before the aircraft became out of control.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-110-BO Fortress into the Pacific Ocean: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
43-39465
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tokyo – Honolulu – Los Angeles – Washington DC
MSN:
10443
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching the Hawaiian coast of Oahu Island on a flight from Tokyo, the crew encountered a fuel exhaustion and was forced to ditch the aircraft about 60 miles west of Hickam Field where it should land. Ten people were rescued while three others were killed, among them George Acheson, personal advisor of General McArthur and President of the Allied Council in Japan.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

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.
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