Zone
Kansai

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in Osaka

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
JA6011
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
42982
YOM:
1946
Location:
Osaka-Itami
Kansai
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
52
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 300 feet, the crew informed ATC that the engine number one exploded and received the permission to return for a safe landing. After completing a circuit, the captain realized it was not possible to reach the airport so he decided to attempt an emergency landing in a paddy field. The aircraft belly landed and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest in flames. All 57 occupants were able to evacuate the cabin before the aircraft would be totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Failure and explosion of the engine number one shortly after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster in Osaka: 11 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72583
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10688
YOM:
1945
Location:
Osaka-Itami
Kansai
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Two minutes after takeoff from Osaka-Itami Airport, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed 7 km from the airport. All 11 occupants were killed, among them three journalists from the American News Agency INS (International News Service). They were en route to South Korea.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Osaka: 24 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1946 at 1310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-78604
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tachikawa – Osaka – Fukuoka
MSN:
22427
YOM:
1945
Location:
Osaka-Itami
Kansai
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 32, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked left and right, then nosed down and crashed in a paddy field. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 24 occupants, among them 3 civilians, were killed. The crew was completing a mail flight from Tachikawa AFB to Fukuoka with an intermediate stop in Osaka-Itami Airport. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were considered as marginal and it is believed that the left engine was not running at impact for reason that could not be determined with certainty.
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