What happened
On April 18, 2022, a privately owned Fuji-FA-200-160, registration JA3803, departed Aso Temporary Airfield for a flight training session. The aircraft was occupied by a flight instructor, a student pilot, and one passenger. Following takeoff, the aircraft performed several maneuvers in the vicinity of Aso City and Yufu City before heading toward Beppu Bay.
During the flight, the instructor lost situational awareness of the aircraft's position. As the aircraft moved toward the Ariake Sea, the student pilot noted that the fuel levels were nearly empty. Despite attempts to manage the engine by switching the fuel selector valve, the engine eventually failed. The aircraft glided for approximately ten seconds before ditching into the Ariake Sea, roughly 10 km west of Miike Port. While the student pilot and the passenger were rescued from the water, the captain and the passenger both suffered fatal injuries.
The investigation
The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) examined the flight history, radar records, and statements from the student pilot and witnesses. The investigation focused on the aircraft's navigation, the crew's response to the fuel shortage, and the lack of required flight documentation. Investigators reviewed the captain's recent medical history, noting a fainting episode two months prior, though no direct link to the accident was established. The investigation also analyzed the aircraft's fuel consumption relative to the remaining fuel at takeoff and the absence of a filed flight plan.