Japan Air Self-Defense Force - Koku Jieitai

Beechcraft 350 Super King Air

The Beechcraft LR-2 Hayabusa (a version of the Beechcraft 350 Super King Air) departed Sapporo-Okadama Airport at 1123LT on a flight to Hakodate to evacuate a patient. On board were two doctors and two pilots. While descending to Hakodate at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and rain showers when the airplane registered 23057 (JG-3057) impacted the slope of a mountain located near Assabu, about 40 km northwest of Hakodate Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all four occupants were killed.

BAe 125

The aircraft departed Kanoya AFB at 1315LT on a calibration flight with six people on board. After he complete a counter clockwise arc, the crew started the descent to Kanoya AFB Runway 08R. The visibility was poor due to low clouds. On approach, at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the aircraft entered clouds when the GPWS alarm sounded. Two second later, the crew deactivated the alarm and continued the approach. Ten seconds later, the aircraft impacted trees and crashed on the slope of Mt Takakuma (1,182 metres high) located 10 km north of the airbase. The wreckage was found a day later and all six crew members were killed.

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Few minutes after takeoff from Niigata Airport, while flying in good weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft crashed on Mt Mikagura located about 55 km southeast of Niigata. All four crew members were killed. They were engaged in a local training mission.

Kawasaki C-1

The crew (four pilots and four technicians) departed Yonago-Miho AFB on a post maintenance local flight. After several circuits, while in cruising altitude, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea off Shimano. All eight occupants were killed.

Shin Meiwa PS-1

Crashed in unknown circumstances in the sea few hundred metres off Oki Island while completing a training flight. Two crew members were rescued while 10 others were killed.

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

The crew was engaged in a post maintenance test flight. En route, the copilot informed ATC about technical problems when control was lost. The aircraft entered a dive and crashed in the sea off Hamamatsu. All four crew members were killed.

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Japan. Crew fate unknown. Operated by the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF).

Kawasaki C-1

During the takeoff roll at Iruma AFB in heavy snow falls, control was lost. The aircraft veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and slid for about 500 meters before coming to rest with its both wings torn off. All seven crew members were injured.

Kawasaki C-1

The aircraft departed Nagoya-Komaki on a flight to Iruma AFB with four other similar airplanes. While approaching the Suga Island, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to low ceiling, heavy rain falls and fog. While cruising at an altitude of 600 feet under a special VFR clearance, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (1,018 meters high), killing all eight crew members. A second Kawasaki C-1 crashed in similar conditions, killing all six crew members while a third airplane struck tree tops but was able to complete an emergency landing on the nearest airport.

Kawasaki C-1

The aircraft departed Nagoya-Komaki on a flight to Iruma AFB with four other similar airplanes. While approaching the Suga Island, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to low ceiling, heavy rain falls and fog. While cruising at an altitude of 600 feet under a special VFR clearance, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (1,018 meters high), killing all six crew members. A second Kawasaki C-1 crashed in similar conditions, killing all eight crew members while a third airplane struck tree tops but was able to complete an emergency landing on the nearest airport.

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

The twin engine airplane was engaged in a training flight, carrying six crew members. En route, the crew informed ATC about an engine failure when control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and crashed onto a house. A crew member was seriously injured while five other occupants were killed. There were no casualties on ground.

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

While approaching Obihiro Airport, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances on a lumberyard located few km from the airfield. The occupant's fate remains unknown.

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

The twin engine airplane was engaged in a training mission when it crashed on a wooded slope of Mt Ozusu located in the Miyazaki prefecture. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Crash landed at Utsunomiya Airport while on a local training flight. The crew escaped uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair and used for spares.

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Suffered an accident somewhere in Japan.

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Crashed on takeoff. Crew fate unknown.

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Apparently following technical problems, the crew elected to ditch the aircraft few km off the Okinawa coast while on a liaison flight. All 22 occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Curtiss C-46 Commando

The aircraft belly landed at Tokyo-Haneda Airport for unknown reason. All four crew members who were completing a training flight were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Curtiss C-46 Commando

The crew was completing a local training mission at Okayama Airport and the aircraft belly landed for unknown reason. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Shortly after takeoff from Yonago-Miho Airport, the airplane crashed into the Japan Sea, few km off shore. All 17 occupants have been killed.

Mitsubishi G4M

The aircraft left Rabaul-Vunakanau Airport in early morning bound for Balalae Island with an intermediate stop in Lakunai to pick up passengers. The twin engine aircraft was flying together with another Mitsubishi G4M and an escort of six Mitsubishi Zero. It left Lakunai Airfield at 0610LT and while approaching the south of the Bougainville Island, the formation was attacked by a squadron of 12 USAAF P-38. The G4M was shot down and crashed in a jungle located some 25 km north of Buin, killing all 12 occupants, among them Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and several high rank Navy Officers who were performing an inspection of the Japanese installations in the area of the Solomon Islands. Crew (705th Kokutai): W/O Takeo Koyani, pilot, W/O Takeo Kotani, pilot, F/S Akiharu Ozaki, copilot, P/O Haruo Ueda, flight engineer, P/O Nobuo Hara, radio operator, P/O Minoru Tanaka, air gunner, F/S Mitsuo Ueno, air gunner, F/S Harumasa Kobayashi, air gunner. Passengers: Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, Admiral Takata, Cdr Kurio Toibana, Cdr Noburu Fukusaki.

Mitsubishi G4M

The aircraft left Rabaul-Vunakanau Airport in early morning bound for Balalae Island with an intermediate stop in Lakunai to pick up passengers. The twin engine aircraft was flying together with another Mitsubishi G4M and an escort of six Mitsubishi Zero. It left Lakunai Airfield at 0610LT and while approaching the south of the Bougainville Island, the formation was attacked by a squadron of 12 USAAF P-38. The G4M was shot down and crashed into the sea off Moila Point, some 15 km southwest of Buin. Two passengers and the captain were found alive while all other occupants were killed, among them several high rank Navy Officers who were performing an inspection of the Japanese installations in the area of the Solomon Islands and were accompanying Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. Crew (705th Kokutai): F/O Hiroshi Hayashi, pilot, Cdr Hiroaki Tanimura 6. Passengers: Vice-Admiral Matome Ugaki, Cpt Motoharu Kitamura, Cdr Rinji Tomoro, Cdr Kaoru Imananka, Cdr Suteji Muroi.