1952 — Jan 14, USN P4Y 2 plane crash after 2 engines fail 6M SW of Yokohama, Japan–all 12

–12 Aviation Safety Network Database. USN P4Y-2 engine failure/crash 6M SW Yokohama.
–12 Pacific Stars and Stripes. “Yoko Air Crash Kills 12.” 1-15-1952, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network Database:
“Date: 14-Jan-1952
“Time: night
“Type: Consolidated P4Y-2 Privateer
“Owner/operator: United States Navy (USN)
“Registration: 59704
….
“Fatalities: Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 12
“Other fatalities: 0
….
“Location: 6 mi SW of Yokohama – Japan
….
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: Atsugi NAS
….
“Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
“Narrative: Crashed after engine failure.

Newspaper

Jan 15, Stars and Stripes: “Tokyo (Pac. S&S) – Engine failure in two of the four motors of a Navy patrol bomber brought death to all 12 crewmen late Monday as the plane crashed to earth and burned six miles southwest of Yokohama, Navy officials in Tokyo reported Tuesday.

“The bodies of three crew members were extricated almost immediately. Army, Navy and civilian rescue teams recovered the other nine bodies from the mangled wreckage late Tuesday morning. Until the remains of the nine men were located – partially buried in the mud of a rice paddy under the demolished aircraft – Navy officials had hoped that some of the crew might have escaped by parachute….

“The big P4Y2 Privateer was returning from an 11-hour patrol mission over the waters of the Japan sea when two of its engines went out. Approximately 20 minutes before the ship was to make its landing at the Atsugi Naval Air Station, the pilot reported the engine trouble. The plane was already in the base leg of ground control approach, according to Navy officials, when it crashed.

“The Privateer, similar to the Air Force’s B-24 bomber, departed Atsugi at 6 a.m. Monday on a routine patrol mission.

“With violent rain squalls closing in on the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan area, the plane plummeted to its destruction in a vacant field, just missing houses and factory buildings scattered about. No property damage was caused by the crash….

“Ten fire trucks from Yokohama and 50 firemen, many of them civilians from nearby villages, fought the flames for more than two hours before rescue teams could approach the ship….” (

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database. US Navy Consolidated P4Y-2 Privateer engine failure and crash 6M SW Yokohama. 1-14-1952 (ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 82413). Accessed 6-27-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/82413

Pacific Stars and Stripes. “Yoko Air Crash Kills 12.” 1-15-1952, p. 1-2. Accessed 6-27-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/pacific-stars-and-stripes-jan-15-1952-p-1/