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Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative: The contact was lost after 10:01 LT, and the helicopter was subsequently found crashed near Mt. Yokote, Gunma prefecture before 15:00 LT. All nine on board received fatal injuries.
The Bell 412EP, named "Haruna" (after Mt. Haruna), was on an inspection flight for a new mountain trail which will be open the next day. Those aboard were two prefectural disaster management officials, two employees of Toho Air Service Co and five firefighters, according to the prefectural government.
JTSB: "In this accident, it is probable that, while flying over mountainous areas for exploration of mountain climbing trail, the Helicopter entered the cloudy airspace and was unable to continuously recognize the ground surface due to lowered visibility, and the captain who was exposed to spatial disorientation could not perform an appropriate maneuvering to maintain the attitude of the Helicopter that subsequently crashed into the slope of the mountain. It is probable that losing continuous visual recognition of the ground surface in the lowered visibility were caused by delayed decision to return and continuing flight in the situation that it was getting difficult to maintain VMC"