What happened
A cargo flight traveling from Travis AFB to Tachikawa AFB, with scheduled stops at Hickam Field and Wake Island, ended in a fatal accident during its final approach. The aircraft was transporting various types of freight when it encountered difficult weather conditions near its destination.
While attempting to land at Tachikawa Air Base, the four-engine aircraft collided with the side of Mount Oyama, which has an elevation of 1,252 meters. The impact occurred approximately 24 km west of the airfield. The collision caused the aircraft to break apart upon hitting the terrain. There were eight fatalities among the occupants, with no survivors reported from the crew.
Findings
Investigations into the accident focused on the flight path during the descent. It was determined that the crew proceeded with their approach while flying at an altitude lower than the minimum safe level. This error may have been the result of using an incorrect altimeter setting during the approach phase.