Iwakuni AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

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

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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 Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune near Barbers Point NAS: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1954 at 2130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-2 Neptune

Operator:

Registration:

124874

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Iwakuni - Barbers Point

Location:

Barbers Point NAS

Hawaii

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

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Circumstances:

During a night approach to Barbers Point NAS, the pilot-in-command decided to make a go around for unknown reason. He completed a turn to the left when the airplane hit the slope of Mt Pu'u Kaua (3,127 feet high) located northwest of the Naval Air Station. The airplane was destroyed upon impact and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Walter J. Hanzo Jr., pilot,
Ens Gerald Martin Hazlett, copilot,
Ens Wilbur D. Cooper,
Adc John Robert Staples,
Ad2 Joseph Daniel Beczek,
Am2 Paul Martin Kohler,
At2 Joseph Michael Maksymon,
At3 Richard Knuton Brown.

Probable cause:

Failure of the pilot to follow the published procedure while turning to the left during an attempt to go around instead of turning to the right over the ocean to avoid any obstacle. A reduced visibility caused by night remains a contributory factor.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune off Jeju Island: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-2 Neptune

Operator:

Registration:

127752

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Iwakuni – Suwon

MSN:

426-5089

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Circumstances:

En route by night from Iwakuni to Suwon, the crew informed ground about an engine failure and elected to ditch the aircraft. The wreckage was found two days later and all ten crew members have been killed. It is possible that the accident was the result of an aerial attack by a US Navy Douglas AD-4B Skyraider during a night patrol.
Crew:
Jesse Beasley,
Fredric Prael,
Rex Claussen,
Gordon Spicklemier,
Lloyd Rensink,
Bruce Berger,
James Hand,
Robert Archbold,
Stanley Mulford,
Paul Morelli.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5S2 Mariner off Jeju: 14 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Martin PBM Mariner

Operator:

Registration:

85152

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Iwakuni - Iwakuni

MSN:

85152

YOM:

1945

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Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight over the East China Sea. En route, the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances off Jeju Island. The crew off the USS Swordknot noted black smoke about 10 km from his position and diverted to the point of impact. Few debris were found and all 14 occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune into the Pacific Ocean: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-2 Neptune

Operator:

Registration:

127764

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Iwakuni - Iwakuni

MSN:

426-5123

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While performing a maritime patrol flight over the Pacific Ocean, the crew informed ground about an engine failure and the captain ditched the airplane 350 km southeast of Miyazaki. A crew member was killed while eight others were rescued.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland GR.5 off Iwakuni AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Short S.25 Sunderland

Operator:

Registration:

PP148

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

During a night landing on rough seas off Iwakuni AFB, the seaplane went out of control and came to rest upside down. Four crew members were killed while seven others were rescued. It was determined that the visibility was low at the time the crew tried to land on rough seas with high winds.