12 fatalities

Fatal Mountain Strike During Approach to Iwakuni Airbase (152144)

Iwakuni AFB, JapanLanding (descent or approach)

On January 16, 1968, a Lockheed P-3 Orion (registration 152144) operated by United States Navy - USN was involved in an aviation accident near Iwakuni AFB, Japan during landing or approach. 12 people were killed. 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 maritime patrol aircraft crashed into a mountain slope near Iwakuni Airbase in poor weather, killing all 12 occupants. The crew was at an insufficient altitude during approach.

Incident Overview and Weather Conditions During a return to Iwakuni Airbase after a maritime patrol flight, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to snowfall. The aircraft was on descent when the accident occurred. ## Crash Location and Casualties At an altitude of 6,200 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Karnegeamori, located a few kilometers southeast of the airfield. The wreckage was discovered several hours later. All 12 occupants on board were killed. ## Contributing Factors The investigation noted that, for an unknown reason, the crew was approaching the airbase at an insufficient altitude. No specific aircraft type, registration, operator, or date is provided in the source material.