What happened
On June 30, 2006, a Cessna 560, registration JA8576, operated by the Yomiuri Shinbun Tokyo Headquarters, was conducting a corporate flight from Hiroshima Nishi Aerodrome to Tokyo International Airport. The aircraft was carrying a crew of two and three passengers.
At approximately 17:49 JST, while on approach to Tokyo International Airport at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the aircraft encountered a sudden, violent vertical jolt. The incident occurred roughly 15 kilometers east of the airport, over Tokyo Bay. During the disturbance, the aircraft'ed cabin experienced enough movement to dislodge ashtray lids and cause luggage to fall onto the floor. While the crew and other passengers struck their heads against the cabin ceiling, one passenger sustained a vertebral body fracture in the lower middle portion of the back.
The investigation
The investigation examined radar records, cockpit voice and flight data, and interviews with the crew and passengers. Investigators analyzed the flight path relative to preceding traffic and reviewed meteorological data, including wind velocity and direction at the time of the incident. The investigation also reviewed the medical history of the injured passenger and the physical configuration of the aircraft cabin, specifically the limited headroom provided by the semi-cylindrical ceiling.