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Fatal aircraft accident off Hamamatsu during test flight (53-3219)

Hamamatsu, JapanFlight

On October 19, 1994, a Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise (registration 53-3219) operated by Japan Air Self-Defense Force - Kōkū Jieitai was involved in an aviation accident near Hamamatsu, Japan in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft entered an uncontrollable dive following the onset of technical malfunctions during a test 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 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into the sea near Hamamatsu during a post-maintenance test flight, resulting in the deaths of all four crew members.

What happened

During a scheduled test flight following recent maintenance work, the aircraft experienced a critical loss of control while in transit. During the flight, the co-pilot contacted air traffic control to report the presence of technical difficulties. Shortly after this communication, the aircraft entered a steep dive. The flight ended when the plane impacted the ocean surface in the waters off Hamamatsu.

Findings

  • The flight was being conducted as a post-maintenance evaluation.
  • The crew reported experiencing technical issues prior to the loss of control.
  • The accident resulted in four fatalities among the crew members.

Probable cause

The aircraft entered an uncontrollable dive following the onset of technical malfunctions during a test flight.

Related events

Same operator

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