No fatalities

Aircraft overrun and fire at Okinawa-Yontan Airport (50872)

Okinawa, JapanLanding (descent or approach)

On April 9, 1945, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration 50872) operated by United States Navy - USN was involved in an aviation accident near Okinawa, Japan during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A four-engine aircraft failed to stop after landing at Okinawa-Yontan Airport, resulting in an overrun and subsequent fire with no injuries reported.

What happened

Following a standard approach and touchdown at Okinawa-Yontan Airport, the pilot encountered difficulties arresting the four engine aircraft within the available runway length. The plane was unable to decelerate sufficiently before reaching the end of the paved surface, leading to an overrun event. As the aircraft left the runway, it sustained significant structural damage, specifically losing its undercarriage. The incident concluded with the airframe coming to rest in flames. Despite the severity of the post-landing events and the resulting fire, there were no casualties among those on board.