Incident Overview
Description
Five Kawasaki C-1 transport aircraft of the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) were flying in formation from Nagoya-Komaki Air Base to Iruma, Japan. The formation leader planned to turn left over Ise Bay towards Iruma, but for unknown reasons allowed the formation’s track to drift right by 13 km. Flying at 600ft under a special VFR clearance, the aircraft (58-1009) hit a 3342 ft hill on a small offshore island, killing all eight on board. The number two (68-1015) also hit the hill, killing all six on board. The third aircraft in formation took evasive action but brushed trees, badly damaging a wingtip and the bottom of the fuselage. The pilots alerted the fourth and fifth aircraft, who pulled up safely. Meanwhile aircraft number three headed back to Komaki and landed safely despite suffering a birdstrike en route. Weather at the time of the accident was rain and fog with visibility less than 1,000 m.
Source of Information
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1983/1983%20-%201220.htmlhttp://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1983/1983%20-%201220.htmlPrimary Cause
Unexpected deviation in formation track leading to a collision with a significant hill.Unexpected deviation in formation track leading to a collision with a significant hill.Share on:
