1952-01-14: Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer (59704) — United States Navy - USN — Atsugi NAS, Japan

12 fatalitiesAtsugi NAS, JapanTakeoff (climb)

A military transport aircraft crashed shortly after departing Atsugi NAS following a dual engine failure during its initial climb.

What happened

During the early stages of flight, an aircraft departed from Atsugi Naval Air Station. While the plane was performing its initial climb, it experienced a simultaneous loss of power in two engines. This mechanical failure led to an aerodynamic stall, making it impossible for the crew to maintain altitude.

As a result of the loss of thrust, the aircraft descended and impacted the ground approximately 6 km east of the airfield. There were no survivors of the impact, with a total of 12 fatalities recorded among the crew members on board.

Findings

  • The primary factor in the accident was the failure of two engines during the climb phase.
  • The loss of power directly resulted in an aircraft stall and subsequent crash.

Probable cause

The simultaneous failure of two engines during the initial climb caused the aircraft to stall and crash.