44-86400
Flight / Schedule
44-86400
Aircraft
Boeing B-29 SuperfortressRegistration
44-86400
Operator
United States Air Force - USAFDate
March 31, 1952 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Yokota AFB (Tokyo) Kanto
Region
Asia • Japan
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On March 31, 1952 at 12:00 AM, 44-86400 experienced a crash involving Boeing B-29 Superfortress, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Yokota AFB (Tokyo) Kanto.
The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a mountains crash site.
11 people were known to be on board, 9 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 81.8%.
Crew on board: 11, crew fatalities: 9, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. Four minutes after takeoff from Yokota AFB, while climbing, the heavy bomber hit the slope of a mountain located near the village of Saimon, about 10 km northwest of the airbase. Two crew members were rescued while nine others were killed. Crew: Cpl Sherley B. Ardoin, † Cpl Norman F. Cline, 2nd Lt William F. Evert, † T/Sgt Charles R. Fitzwater, † 1st Lt Earl H. Lemons, † S/Sgt Wayne L. Marchand, † Cpl Carrol L. Rackley, † 2nd Lt Harold G. Richards, † 1st Lt Norbert L. Robie, † Sgt James H. Sample, 1st Lt John G. Stevens. †
Aircraft reference details include registration 44-86400.
Fatalities
Total
9
Crew
9
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
Four minutes after takeoff from Yokota AFB, while climbing, the heavy bomber hit the slope of a mountain located near the village of Saimon, about 10 km northwest of the airbase. Two crew members were rescued while nine others were killed. Crew: Cpl Sherley B. Ardoin, † Cpl Norman F. Cline, 2nd Lt William F. Evert, † T/Sgt Charles R. Fitzwater, † 1st Lt Earl H. Lemons, † S/Sgt Wayne L. Marchand, † Cpl Carrol L. Rackley, † 2nd Lt Harold G. Richards, † 1st Lt Norbert L. Robie, † Sgt James H. Sample, 1st Lt John G. Stevens. †
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
11
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
2
Fatality Rate
81.8%
Known people on board: 11
Operational Details
Operator
United States Air Force - USAFFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Asia • Japan
Aircraft Details
Aircraft
Boeing B-29 SuperfortressRegistration
44-86400
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