35 fatalities

1954-02-01: Curtiss C-46 Commando (44-78027) — United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) — Tomakomai, Japan

Tomakomai, JapanFlight

On February 1, 1954, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 44-78027) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Tomakomai, Japan in flight. 35 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An unidentified fire originated within the main cabin during flight, causing the aircraft to become uncontrollable. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781252442Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into the sea south of Tomakomai after the crew reported a fire in the main cabin during flight.

What happened

Approximately thirty minutes after departing from Misawa Air Force Base, the flight crew notified air traffic control regarding an active fire within the primary passenger cabin. Following this communication, the aircraft became uncontrollable and descended into the ocean. The wreckage was located roughly 30 km south of Tomakomai.

There were 35 fatalities resulting from the accident, with no survivors reported among the occupants.

Findings

Investigations into the crash identified an unidentified in-flight fire as the primary factor leading to the loss of control and subsequent impact with the sea.

Probable cause

An unidentified fire originated within the main cabin during flight, causing the aircraft to become uncontrollable.