What happened
During a departure from Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, an aircraft operating under the callsign Cream 2 was performing its takeoff roll on runway 05L. During this phase of flight, the captain initiated an aborted takeoff for reasons that remain undetermined. The aircraft was unable to decelerate sufficiently before the end of the runway, leading to an overrun.
As the plane exited the paved surface, it crossed a grassy embankment and struck a large ditch. The momentum carried the aircraft onto the inner perimeter road of the air force base, where it collided with an air force police pickup truck. The impact caused the wings to detach from the fuselage, resulting in the release of fuel from the wing tanks.
Following the collision, multiple ignition sources led to a significant fire. These included ruptured hydraulic lines, electrical malfunctions, and fuel making contact with hot brakes. While all seven crew members were successfully rescued from the wreckage, the accident resulted in two fatalities, with the victims succumbing to serious injuries several days after the event.
Findings
- The aircraft was a total loss due to the intensity of the post-crash fire.
- The primary sequence of events involved an unexplained decision to abort the takeoff during the initial roll.