What happened
A flight departing from Iwo Jima with a destination of Tachikawa experienced a catastrophic accident during its initial climb. The four-engine aircraft was transporting a variety of cargo along with nine crew members and two passengers, with a total takeoff weight of 24,892 lbs.
After completing a 3,500-foot takeoff roll on runway 07, the plane successfully rotated and reached an altitude of approximately 100 feet. During this phase of flight, the aircraft banked sharply to the left, leading the left wing tip to strike the ground. The subsequent loss of control resulted in a high-impact crash and a massive explosion that caused the airframe to disintegrate.
Of the eleven people on board, ten fatalities were recorded immediately following the impact. One passenger survived the initial wreckage; however, that individual succumbed to their injuries sixteen days later.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified a mechanical failure as the primary driver of the event. The loss of control during the climb was triggered by an electrical short-circuit within the number one engine's propeller mechanism, which caused the propeller to enter reverse pitch unexpectedly.