Accident
On a night with good weather conditions, a three-engine aircraft was approaching Tokyo-Haneda Airport. While at an altitude of about 2,000 feet, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into Tokyo Bay, approximately 12 kilometers southeast of the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact, and none of the 133 occupants survived. This was the worst accident in aviation history at that time.
The crew was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) in good weather conditions and did not report any issues on the air traffic control frequency during the approach.
Investigation
Following the crash, a large amount of debris was quickly recovered, including the tail section, which sank to a depth of about 20 meters. The investigation examined all available evidence.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the exact cause of the accident could not be established with certainty. The pilot was in contact with air traffic control during the final approach and did not report any anomalies. Investigations did not reveal any technical issues with the instruments or engines, nor was there any evidence of an explosion prior to the accident.