What happened
Following the landing phase at Iwakuni Air Force Base, the aircraft lost directional control and drifted toward the right side of the runway. As the plane moved onto soft terrain, the force of the impact caused the landing gear to be torn from the airframe. The aircraft continued to slide across the ground for a short distance before coming to a complete stop, at which point the left wing sustained heavy structural damage.
Despite the severity of the excursion and the resulting destruction of the airframe, there were zero fatalities or injuries reported among those on board. The aircraft was subsequently determined to be a total loss due to the extent of the damage.
Findings
Investigations into the incident revealed that the loss of control was triggered by pilot error during the landing sequence. Specifically, the co-pilot incorrectly manipulated the engine controls by opening the right throttle and the left cowl flap instead of properly adjusting both cowl flaps.