What happened
During an approach to Nakashibetsu Airport following a routine departure from Sapporo, the flight crew began their descent amidst challenging weather conditions. While the aircraft was on final approach and executing a 30-degree left turn, it impacted the terrain. The impact occurred in a field covered by approximately 40 cm of snow.
Following the initial contact with the ground, the aircraft type (unspecified model) slid for several dozen meters before coming to a halt roughly 100 meters before reaching the threshold of runway 23. The force of the impact caused the fuselage to break into two separate sections. Of the total people on board, 31 injuries were reported, while 22 passengers and crew members were able to evacuate without harm.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the pilot-in-command failed to correctly estimate the aircraft's altitude and distance from the ground during the approach under low ceiling conditions. Additionally, improper management of engine power was identified as a contributing element to the crash.