Mooney M20C accident near Yao, Jp, March 26, 2016
On March 26, 2016 at about 4:18 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered JA3788, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Yao (Yao Airport). It was flown under foreign airline rules (Part 129). 4 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
- March 26, 2016 · about 4:18 pm local time
- Place
- Yao, Japan · Yao Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- JA3788 · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · foreign airline rules (Part 129)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 26, 2016 , about 1618 Local Time, a Mooney M20C airplane, Japan registration number JA3788, operated by the pilot, was destroyed by post crash fire following a loss of control while attempting a go-around at the Yao Airport, Osaka Prefecture. The pilot and three passengers received fatal injuries. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Japan. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained by 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 https://www.mlit.go.jp/jtsb/english.html
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Fire on the ground
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.