Air Crash Investigations

On August 12, 1985, a Japan Airlines B-747 aircraft, on its way from Tokyo to Osaka, lost shortly after take-off (around around 1825) from Tokyo part of its tail. At the time of the emergency the aircraft was approaching the east coast of Southern lzu Peninsula, and after a continued flight of about 30 minutes the aircraft crashed among mountains in Ueno Village, Tano Gun, Gunma Prefecture at approximately 1856 hours. On board the aircraft were 509 passengers (including 12 infants) and a crew of 15; 524 persons in total, of which 520 persons (505 passengers and 15 crew-members) were killed, and 4 passengers seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed and fire occurred. The accident was caused by an improper repair after an accident in Osaka in 1978.