Tachikawa - Wake Island

The DC-7 was loaded with 27,484lb of cargo and was cleared to taxy to runway 01 at 21:45. After receiving IFR clearance for Wake Island, the crew reported ready for takeoff and requested the use of the paved runway overrun area. The request was approved. The aircraft failed to rotate at 121 knots (V2) and even accelerated through 128 knots without being able to rotate. The engines were stopped and maximum braking was applied, but the aircraft overran and ran through a fence. The landing gear failed and the aircraft slid to a stop 1700 feet from the runway end. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Flight / Schedule

Tachikawa - Wake Island

Aircraft

Douglas DC-7

Registration

N2282

MSN

45128/779

Year of Manufacture

1957

Date

September 12, 1966 at 10:01 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Cargo

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Tachikawa AFB (Tokyo) Kanto

Region

Asia • Japan

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On September 12, 1966 at 10:01 PM, Tachikawa - Wake Island experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-7, operated by Airlift International, with the event recorded near Tachikawa AFB (Tokyo) Kanto.

The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

4 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 4 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The DC-7 was loaded with 27,484lb of cargo and was cleared to taxy to runway 01 at 21:45. After receiving IFR clearance for Wake Island, the crew reported ready for takeoff and requested the use of the paved runway overrun area. The request was approved. The aircraft failed to rotate at 121 knots (V2) and even accelerated through 128 knots without being able to rotate. The engines were stopped and maximum braking was applied, but the aircraft overran and ran through a fence. The landing gear failed and the aircraft slid to a stop 1700 feet from the runway end. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N2282, MSN 45128/779, year of manufacture 1957.

Fatalities

Total

0

Crew

0

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The DC-7 was loaded with 27,484lb of cargo and was cleared to taxy to runway 01 at 21:45. After receiving IFR clearance for Wake Island, the crew reported ready for takeoff and requested the use of the paved runway overrun area. The request was approved. The aircraft failed to rotate at 121 knots (V2) and even accelerated through 128 knots without being able to rotate. The engines were stopped and maximum braking was applied, but the aircraft overran and ran through a fence. The landing gear failed and the aircraft slid to a stop 1700 feet from the runway end. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

4

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

4

Fatality Rate

0.0%

Known people on board: 4

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Tachikawa - Wake Island

Flight Type

Cargo

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

Asia • Japan

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Douglas DC-7

Registration

N2282

MSN

45128/779

Year of Manufacture

1957

Similar Plane Crashes

May 5, 1928 at 12:00 AM8 Fatalities

Nakajima Aircraft Company

Nakajima N36

The single engine departed Tokyo on its second test flight, carrying eight crew members, engineers and pilots. The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all eight occupants. The first test flight has been completed the day prior to the accident.

March 14, 1931 at 12:00 AM

Private Japanese

Junkers A.50

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Shinchi, northeast of Fukushima. Occupant's fate unknown.

July 6, 1931 at 12:00 AM

Hochi Shimbun

Junkers A.50

The pilot Seiji Yoshihara was attempting a second non stop flight from Tokyo to Los Angeles on this single engine aircraft owned by Hochi Shimbun. While flying off Nemuro, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Nemuro Bay. While the pilot was rescued seven hours later, the aircraft sank and was lost. A first attempt to cross the north Atlantic ocean from Tokyo to Los Angeles failed last 14 of May when the aircraft crashed into the sea some 40 miles off the Kurile Islands.

August 14, 1931 at 12:00 AM

Francis Charles Chichester

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

After takeoff, the single engine airplane collided with power cables and crashed in the Katsuura Bay. The pilot was seriously injured.

February 27, 1932 at 12:00 AM4 Fatalities

Japan Air Transport

Dornier Do J Wal

En route, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing and to ditch the airplane off Yawata. Upon landing, the seaplane disintegrated. Four crew members were killed and a fifth was injured.

September 15, 1932 at 12:00 AM

Asahi Shimbun

De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth

En route from Matsue to Osaka, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea few dozen metres off Tohaku, Tottori prefecture. The pilot was rescued and the aircraft sank and was lost.