Flight History
On September 27, 2002, a Boeing 767-300, registration JA8274, operated by All Nippon Airways as scheduled passenger flight 569 from Tokyo International Airport to Kochi Airport, departed at 19:28 JST. The aircraft was descending under instrument flight rules over the sea approximately 16 nm southeast of Kochi Airport at around 20:25 JST at an altitude of 2,600 ft when it was shaken suddenly and violently. DFDR data recorded significant changes: at 20:25:03, lateral acceleration was 0.4 G to the left, vertical acceleration 1.6 G upward, and roll angle 8.1° right; one second later, lateral acceleration was 0.1 G to the right, vertical acceleration 0.6 G downward, and roll angle 9.7° left. The aircraft subsequently descended approximately 100 ft from 2,600 ft to 2,500 ft in one second. The accident occurred during an ILS approach to Runway 32 after the aircraft had been cleared for the approach by Kochi Approach Control.
Injuries and Occupants
The aircraft carried 296 persons: 288 passengers (including an infant) and 8 crew members (a captain and seven others). Two passengers sustained serious injuries and one passenger sustained slight injuries.
Crew Actions and Weather
The captain, acting as pilot flying, reported that before descent, he anticipated turbulence and advised passengers to finish using lavatories. During approach, the onboard weather radar showed an echo to the south of Kochi Airport. The captain adjusted the heading to avoid a green echo. At around 20:27, while at approximately 5.5 nm from the runway at an altitude of 1,600–1,700 ft, the aircraft encountered moderate to moderate-plus turbulence, with roll angles of 20°–25° and a descent rate of 1,500–2,000 ft/min. The captain initiated a missed approach. After holding for about 40 minutes, the aircraft landed at Kochi Airport at 21:23 JST.
Investigation
The Aircraft and Railway Accidents Investigation Commission (ARAIC) investigated the accident. An accredited representative from the United States participated. The National Aerospace Laboratory assisted in analyzing accelerations on aft cabin seats. The investigation included analysis of flight recorders, witness statements, and a flight test. No probable cause was stated in the investigation report excerpt.