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19 fatalities

Mountain Strike Near Hachijō-jima Airport (JA6155)

Hachijō-jima, JapanTakeoff (climb)

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 of the accident was not determined. Investigators did not rule out a navigation error involving an incorrect departure route in low visibility, or an engine failure that led the crew to attempt a return to the airport for an emergency landing. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into a mountain slope about 10 km from Hachijō-jima Airport shortly after takeoff in foggy conditions, killing all 19 occupants. The exact cause was not determined.

Accident Overview and Immediate Aftermath Shortly after departing Hachijō-jima Airport for Tokyo-Haneda Airport, the aircraft climbed in limited visibility caused by fog and struck a mountain slope. The aircraft did not arrive at its destination, prompting search and rescue operations to begin at 1630 local time. The wreckage was later located on a mountainside approximately 10 km from the airport. The impact destroyed the aircraft, and all 19 people on board were killed. ## Investigation Findings The official investigation was unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. However, investigators did not rule out two possible contributing factors: a navigation error in which the crew followed an incorrect departure route in low visibility, or an engine failure that forced the crew to alter their route in an attempt to return to the airport for an emergency landing.

Probable cause

The exact cause of the accident was not determined. Investigators did not rule out a navigation error involving an incorrect departure route in low visibility, or an engine failure that led the crew to attempt a return to the airport for an emergency landing.

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