What happened
During a return flight to Iwakuni Airbase following the completion of a maritime patrol mission, an aircraft impacted the terrain near Mt Karnegeamori. The incident occurred while the aircraft was descending at an altitude of 6,200 feet. The impact took place on a mountain slope situated a short distance southeast of the airfield.
At the time of the accident, the crew was navigating through challenging meteorological conditions characterized by snowfall and significantly reduced visibility. Following the impact, search efforts located the wreckage several hours later. There were 12 fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft, with no survivors reported.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified that the aircraft was performing its approach to the airbase at an insufficient altitude. While the specific reasons for this low altitude remain undetermined, the presence of heavy snow and poor visibility were noted environmental factors during the descent phase.