Robinson R44 accident near Tajima, Jp, July 20, 2009
On July 20, 2009 at about 9:25 am local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered JA32CT, was involved in an accident near Tajima. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 2009 · about 9:25 am local time
- Place
- Tajima, Japan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- JA32CT · no longer on the register · serial 11948
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 20, 2009, about 0925 Japan standard time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, Japanese registration JA32CT, collided with mountainous terrain about 9 miles southeast of the Tajima Airport, Tajima, Japan. The helicopter sustained substantial damage due to impact forces. The flight was conducted under the provisions of the Civil Aviation Regulations of Japan. The pilot and one passenger died at the scene. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Japan. This report is for informational purposes only, and contains only the information released by, or obtained from the Government of Japan. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) 2-1-2, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-8918, Japan Phone: +81-3-5253-8814 Fax: +81-3-5253-1677
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RJOH Miho at 8:37 am
- Destination: RJBT Tajima
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.