What happened
A scheduled flight traveling from Tokyo to Okinawa, part of a larger multi-stop itinerary originating in Los Angeles, was conducting a precision radar approach to runway 1s at Naha Air Base. During the descent, the crew was notified of reduced visibility and instructed to descend to 1,000 feet msl. As the aircraft approached the runway, the flight crew completed necessary landing checklists, including gear deployment and flap settings.
While on final approach, air traffic control provided several updates regarding the aircraft's position relative to the glidepath. At approximately three miles from the touchdown point, the crew was informed they were slightly below the required path. Subsequent communications noted a 10-knot tailwind and a continued deviation below the glidepath. Although controllers later indicated the aircraft had returned to the glidepath, the DC-8 descended through heavy rain and low cloud cover. At an altitude estimated between 75 and 100 feet, the aircraft struck the water roughly 2,200 feet before reaching the runway at a speed of 144 knots.
Findings
The investigation determined that the accident was caused by an unarrested rate of descent resulting from the crew's failure to monitor instrument altitude references. This lack of attention occurred while the pilot attempted to establish visual contact with the runway environment during meteorological conditions that prevented such visibility.