No fatalities

In-flight engine failure and crew bailout near Kagoshima (52-5881)

Kagoshima, JapanFlight

On November 30, 1955, a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (registration 52-5881) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Kagoshima, Japan in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by a failure of one engine during flight. 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A crew abandoned an aircraft following an engine failure and the inability to feather the propeller, resulting in a crash in Kagoshima.

What happened

During a flight near Kagoshima, an engine malfunction occurred, leading to a loss of power. Following the mechanical failure, the crew attempted to feather the propeller to reduce drag; however, this procedure could not be completed successfully.

Due to the inability to manage the propeller state and the subsequent flight conditions, the crew made the decision to bail out of the aircraft. After the crew exited, the plane descended rapidly and struck the ground in the Kagoshima region.

Despite the impact of the aircraft, all five crew members survived the incident without injuries.

Findings

Investigations into the event determined that the primary factor was an engine failure during the flight phase.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by a failure of one engine during flight.