An LR-2 reconnaissance aircraft of Northern Army Aviation Group, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, carrying four persons, was en route to pick up a patient and is feared to have crashed. The accident airplane lost radar contact at 18 NM west of Hakodate Airport at 3000 feet. The wreckage and four bodies were found in a forest the next day. Elevation of the accident site is 300 to 400 meters (1000-1300 ft), though the last ATC instruction was ‘maintain 3500 feet’. The FDR of the accident plane had removed due to electrical malfunction, however, the CVR was operating at the time of the accident. The LR-2 was called for an ambulance mission because the ambulance helicopters of local government could not fly due to bad weather at Hakodate. The LR-2 is a military variant of Super King Air 350.