ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-54D-10-DC (DC-4) 42-72704 Tachikawa Air Base
ASN logo
 

Status:
Date:Friday 21 April 1950
Time:23:25
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC4 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Douglas C-54D-10-DC (DC-4)
Operator:United States Air Force - USAF
Registration: 42-72704
MSN: 10809
First flight: 1945
Crew:Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8
Passengers:Fatalities: 27 / Occupants: 27
Total:Fatalities: 35 / Occupants: 35
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:34 km (21.3 mls) SW of Tachikawa Air Base (   Japan)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Military
Departure airport:Okinawa-Kadena AFB (DNA/RODN), Japan
Destination airport:Tachikawa Air Base (RJTC), Japan
Narrative:
The Skymaster was on a flight from Clark Air Base to Tachikawa Air Base in Japan with an enroute stop at Okinawa-Kadena AFB. During the last leg of the flight, the crew reported overhead the O-Shima radio range station and were cleared to descend to 5000 feet. In fact the plane was some 40 km south-west of O-Shima. The crew descended over mountainous terrain until the airplane flew into the side of Mount Hirugatake, a 1279 m high mountain which is located near Mount Fuji.

Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain

Sources:
» Aviation Archaeological Investigation and Research (AAIR)
» USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to Present / Joe Baugher
» Military aviation disasters : significant losses since 1908 / D. Gero, 1999


Photos

Add your photo of this accident or aircraft

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Okinawa-Kadena AFB to Tachikawa Air Base as the crow flies is 1508 km (942 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: languages

Share

Douglas DC-4

  • 1242 built
  • 133rd loss
  • 69th fatal accident
  • 11th worst accident (at the time)
  • 38th worst accident (currently)
» safety profile

 Japan
  • 2nd worst accident (at the time)
  • 12th worst accident (currently)
» safety profile

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org