Zone
Kyūshū

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules at Ashiya AFB: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 20, 1959 at 1729 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
57-0468
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Iwo Jima - Ashiya
MSN:
3175
YOM:
1958
Location:
Ashiya AFB
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the four engine aircraft failed to land at Ashiya AFB and overshot. At the end of the runway, it stalled and crashed on several barracks. A crew member was killed while eight other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed. On ground, nine people were killed while several others were injured. The exact circumstances of the mishap remains unclear.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar near Ashiya AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1957 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Ashiya AFB
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On final approach to Ashiya AFB in poor weather conditions (rain and fog), the airplane hit the slope of Mt Hobashirayama located about 11 km short of runway 30. All four crew members were killed.

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 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:

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

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
52-5921
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
11100
YOM:
1952
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:
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 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:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ashiya - Ashiya
Location:
Ashiya AFB
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
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.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-15-FA Flying Boxcar off Ashiya AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
49-0161
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
10398
YOM:
1949
Location:
Ashiya AFB
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Ashiya AFB, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea, about 24 km northeast of its departure point. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Grumman SA-16A Albatross in Moji: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
51-062
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Beppu – Ashiya
MSN:
G-141
YOM:
1952
Location:
Moji
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
En route from Beppu to Ashiya AFB, the seaplane hit the slope of a mountain located three km southwest of Moji, killing all eight occupants. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited due to marginal weather conditions.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-22-FA Flying Boxcar near Seongnam AFB: 44 killed

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1952 at 1445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
51-2551
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ashiya - Seongnam
MSN:
10509
YOM:
1950
Location:
Seongnam AFB (Seoul)
Gyeonggi (경기도)
Country:
South Korea
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
44
Circumstances:
While descending to Seongnam AFB in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a dense wooded area located in a mountainous area, about 30 km east of Seoul. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 44 occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions consisted of an horizontal visibility of 11 km with a cloud base at 3,000 feet.
Crew:
Cwo Alfred H. Auger,
Pfc Robert J. Beachy,
A1c Leroy J. Beer,
Sgt Francis C. Berger,
Pfc Gilberto A. Berrios,
Cpl Antonio Calaustro,
Cpl William E. Clark,
Pfc C. Concepcion-Esquilio,
Cpl Patrick E. Connolly,
Pfc Delbert Coulam,
Cpl Donald D. Drinnen,
Sfc Albert W. Dzinwkowski,
Cpl James A. Flory,
Pfc Lloyd O. Fogt,
A2c Marvin L. Gainey,
Cpl Frank. Gfroerer,
Cpl Thomas E. Giglio,
Cpl John W. Hanlon,
M/Sgt Arthur J. Holland,
Sgt Robert W. Irwin,
Pfc Robert H. Koehler,
Pfc Leon Letts Jr.,
S/Sgt Ray W. Mansholt,
Pfc Bronson J. Mastne,
Sgt Richard L. Menninger,
Pfc Erling P. Miller,
2nd Lt John C. Mortensen,
Cpt William C. Moskosky Sr.,
Pfc Billy G. Mouney,
Sgt Donald R. Northrup,
Pfc Byron H. Pittman,
Pfc Lovell E. Prater,
Pvt Juan Rivera-Gonzales,
Pfc Juan Rivera-Gonzales,
Pfc Raul Rosalez,
Cpt Robert L. Schenck,
SGt Arthur J. Scowcraft,
Pfc Eugene R. Serra,
Sgt Ray A. Shepherd,
Pfc Freelan Shrewsbury,
S/Sgt Thaddeus L. Smith Jr.,
Sgt John C. Stauch Sr.,
Sgt Harry N. Tsuruoka,
Cpl John H. Williams.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. No deficiencies on instruments or engines were reported and the reason why the airplane was flying at an insufficient altitude remains unclear.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-13-FA Flying Boxcar in Ashiya: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
49-0138
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
MSN:
10375
YOM:
1949
Location:
Ashiya AFB
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Returning from the Korean War Front, the twin engine aircraft was completing a circuit over the city of Ashiya to reach the approach path when it went out of control and crashed onto a house with a beer hall located 1,7 km from the Ashiya Airbase. All five crew members and two people in the house were killed.
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