Boeing 707-436 – G-APFE – Air Crash Data

Incident Overview

Date: Saturday 5 March 1966

Aircraft Type: Boeing 707-436

Owner/operator: British Overseas Airways Corporation – BOAC

Registration Number: G-APFE

Location: Mount Fuji – ÿ Japan

Phase of Flight: En route

Status: Destroyed, written off

Casualties: Fatalities: 124 / Occupants: 124

Component Affected: Aircraft fuselage (forward and mid-aft)Aircraft fuselage (forward and mid-aft)

Category: Accident

On March 4th, 2003, BOAC Flight 911, a Boeing 707-400, crashed near Mount Fuji, Japan, resulting in the loss of all 124 occupants. The flight was scheduled to depart San Francisco (SFO) to Hong Kong (HKG) via Honolulu (HNL) and Tokyo (HND). Due to severe turbulence and a malfunctioning precision approach radar, the aircraft was diverted to Fukuoka (FUK) and landed there. After overnighting in Fukuoka, it continued its journey to Tokyo, where it landed at 12:43. The aircraft was prepared for the Hong Kong leg of its flight and a flight plan was filed for an instrument flight plan via Oshima on airway JG6 to Hong Kong at FL310. The crew contacted ATC requesting permission to start the engines and clearance for a VMC climb via Fuji-Rebel-Kushimoto. The aircraft departed Tokyo Airport at 13:42, flying over Gotemba City at an altitude of approximately 4900 meters with a heading of 298 degrees and an airspeed of 320-370 knots. After takeoff, it flew over the area surrounding Gotemba City, then turned towards Tokyo. The aircraft then lost altitude over the Takigahara area, and parts of the aircraft broke away, culminating in a slow flat spin to the right, crashing into a forest. The forward fuselage crashed into the forest approximately 300 meters west of the site, causing fire. The probable cause was an unusually severe bout of turbulence experienced over Gotemba City, exceeding the aircraft’s design limits.On March 4th, 2003, BOAC Flight 911, a Boeing 707-400, crashed near Mount Fuji, Japan, resulting in the loss of all 124 occupants. The flight was scheduled to depart San Francisco (SFO) to Hong Kong (HKG) via Honolulu (HNL) and Tokyo (HND). Due to severe turbulence and a malfunctioning precision approach radar, the aircraft was diverted to Fukuoka (FUK) and landed there. After overnighting in Fukuoka, it continued its journey to Tokyo, where it landed at 12:43. The aircraft was prepared for the Hong Kong leg of its flight and a flight plan was filed for an instrument flight plan via Oshima on airway JG6 to Hong Kong at FL310. The crew contacted ATC requesting permission to start the engines and clearance for a VMC climb via Fuji-Rebel-Kushimoto. The aircraft departed Tokyo Airport at 13:42, flying over Gotemba City at an altitude of approximately 4900 meters with a heading of 298 degrees and an airspeed of 320-370 knots. After takeoff, it flew over the area surrounding Gotemba City, then turned towards Tokyo. The aircraft then lost altitude over the Takigahara area, and parts of the aircraft broke away, culminating in a slow flat spin to the right, crashing into a forest. The forward fuselage crashed into the forest approximately 300 meters west of the site, causing fire. The probable cause was an unusually severe bout of turbulence experienced over Gotemba City, exceeding the aircraft’s design limits.

Description

BOAC flight 911, a Boeing 707-400, crashed near Mount Fuji, Japan, after encountering severe turbulence killing all 124 occupants. BOAC Flight 911 was a scheduled service from San Francisco (SFO) to Hong Kong (HKG) via Honolulu (HNL) and Tokyo (HND). The Boeing 707 was expected to arrive at Tokyo Airport at 16:45 on 4 March. However, due to poor meteorological conditions at Tokyo and because the precision approach radar (PAR) of the GCA was out of service, it diverted to Fukuoka (FUK) and landed there at 18:00. After staying overnight at Fukuoka, Flight 911 left for Tokyo at 11:25 and landed there at 12:43. The aircraft was prepared for the next leg to Hong Kong and a flight plan was filed for a flight in accordance with the instrument flight rules via Oshima on airway JG6 to Hong Kong at FL310. At 13:42 hours the crew contacted ATC requesting permission to start the engines and clearance for a VMC climb via Fuji-Rebel-Kushimoto. The aircraft left the ramp at 13:50. It was instructed to make “a right turn after take off”, and departed Tokyo Airport at 13:58. After takeoff the aircraft flew over Gotemba City on a heading of approximately 298 deg at an altitude of approximately 4900 m and indicated airspeed of 320 to 370 knots. The aircraft, trailing white vapor, then suddenly lost altitude over the Takigahara area, and parts of the aircraft began to break away over Tsuchiyadai and Ichirimatsu. Finally over Tarobo at an altitude of approx. 2000 m, the forward fuselage broke away. The mid-aft fuselage together with the wing, making a slow flat spin to the right, crashed into a forest at the foot of Mount Fuji. The forward fuselage crashed into the forest approx. 300 m to the west of the above site and caught fire. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The aircraft suddenly encountered abnormally severe turbulence over Gotemba City which imposed a gust load considerably in excess of the design limit.”

Primary Cause

Unusual and excessive turbulence conditions experienced over Gotemba City, exceeding the aircraft’s design limits.Unusual and excessive turbulence conditions experienced over Gotemba City, exceeding the aircraft’s design limits.

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