What happened
On January 28, 2024, at approximately 14:11 JST, a Honda Aircraft HA-4/20, registration JA924H, operated by Honda Airways Co., Ltd., veered off the left side of Runway 01 at Oita Airport. The flight was being conducted as a training session for a trainee pilot preparing for a type rating practical test, with a captain acting as the instructor and an observer present in the cabin.
After performing continuous touch-and-go maneuvers, the aircraft landed on Runway 01 amidst a crosswind. During the landing roll, the aircraft began to meander. The trainee deployed the speedbrakes, which caused the aircraft's heading to shift further to the left. As the aircraft drifted toward the edge of the runway, the crew failed to apply sufficient braking or corrective rudder input. The aircraft eventually exited the paved surface, entered a grassy area, and rotated approximately 180 degrees before coming to a stop. While the aircraft sustained minor damage to the landing gear door and a wing fairing, there were no injuries to the three occupants.
The investigation
The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) examined the flight data from the Cockpit Voice and Flight Data Recorder (CVFDR) and the Central Maintenance Function (CMF). The investigation focused on the sequence of pilot inputs, the influence of the observer's verbal commands, and the company's training protocols. Investigators also reviewed the aircraft's mechanical systems, finding no malfunctions in the brakes, rudder, or steering systems. The investigation also looked into the training background of the captain, noting that he had not yet undergone specific instructor-seat training for this aircraft type.