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Crash of a Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage in Chofu: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 2015 at 1058 LT
Operator:
Registration:
JA4060
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Chōfu - Amami
MSN:
46-22011
YOM:
1989
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
1300
Captain / Total hours on type:
120.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2284
Circumstances:
On Sunday, July 26, 2015 at around 10:58 Japan Standard Time (JST: UTC + 9 hrs: unless otherwise stated, all times are indicated in JST using the 24-hour clock), a privately owned Piper PA-64-350P, registered JA4060, crashed into a private house at Fujimi Town in Chōfu City, right after its takeoff from Runway 17 of Chōfu Airport There were five people on board, consisting of the captain and four passengers. The captain and one passenger died and three passengers were seriously injured. In addition, one resident died and two residents had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed and a fire broke out. Furthermore, the house where the Aircraft crashed into were consumed in a fire, and neighboring houses sustained damage due to the fire and other factors.
Probable cause:
It is highly probable that this accident occurred as the speed of the Aircraft decreased during takeoff and climb, which led the Aircraft to stall and crashed into a residential area near Chōfu Airport. It is highly probable that decreased speed was caused by the weight of the Aircraft exceeding the maximum takeoff weight, takeoff at low speed, and continued excessive nose-up attitude. As for the fact that the Captain made the flight with the weight of the Aircraft exceeding the maximum takeoff weight, it is not possible to determine whether or not the Captain was aware of the weight of the Aircraft exceeded the maximum takeoff weight prior to the flight of the accident because the Captain is dead. However, it is somewhat likely that the Captain had insufficient understanding of the risks of making flights under such situation and safety awareness of observing relevant laws and regulations. It is somewhat likely that taking off at low speed occurred because the Captain decided to take a procedure to take off at such a speed; or because the Captain reacted and took off due to the approach of the Aircraft to the runway threshold. It is somewhat likely that excessive nose-up attitude was continued in the state that nose-up tended to occur because the position of the C.G. of the Aircraft was close to the aft limit, or the Captain maintained the nose-up attitude as he prioritized climbing over speed. Adding to these factors, exceeding maximum takeoff weight, takeoff at low speed and continued excessive nose-up attitude, as the result of analysis using mathematical models, it is somewhat likely that the decreased speed was caused by the decreased engine power of the Aircraft; however, as there was no evidence of showing the engine malfunction, it was not possible to determine this.
Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-30 Marquise in Kagoshima

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
JA8753
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Schedule:
Amami - Kagoshima
MSN:
504
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while completing a training flight from Amami-Ōshima Island and Kagoshima. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune near Amami: 12 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
4628
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
226-2012
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While on a maritime survey flight in the Okinawa Archipelago, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions when the airplane struck the slope of Mt Rankan and crashed. All 12 crew members were killed.

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

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
84662
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
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.