On August 17, 1963, a De Havilland DH.114 Heron (registration JA6155) operated by Fujita Airlines - Fujita Koku Kabushiki Kaisha was involved in an aviation accident near Hachijō-jima, Japan during takeoff. 19 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The exact cause remains undetermined, though potential factors include navigational errors during low visibility or an unconfirmed engine failure. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
An aircraft crashed into a mountainside shortly after departing Hachijō-jima Airport for Tokyo-Haneda Airport, resulting in the deaths of all 19 people on board.
What happened
During a flight from Hachijō-jima Airport to Tokyo-Haneda Airport, an aircraft crashed into a mountain slope. The incident occurred during the initial climb phase while the crew was operating in foggy conditions with restricted visibility. Following the failure of the aircraft to reach its intended destination, search and rescue operations commenced at 16:30 local time.
The wreckage was subsequently located on a mountainside approximately 10 km away from the departure airport. The impact forces were severe enough to destroy the aircraft, and there were 19 fatalities among the occupants.
Findings
Official investigations were unable to establish a definitive cause for the crash, though several factors remained under consideration. Investigators did not rule out the possibility that the crew committed a navigation error by following an incorrect departure path while flying in low visibility. Additionally, investigators considered whether an engine malfunction might have occurred, potentially forcing the crew to alter their flight path in an attempt to perform an emergency landing at the airport.
Probable cause
The exact cause remains undetermined, though potential factors include navigational errors during low visibility or an unconfirmed engine failure.