Investigation Summary
The flight was the first leg of a journey from Hong Kong to Vancouver, with Tokyo Haneda serving as a scheduled stopover. Upon reaching Tokyo, the crew held for 38 minutes due to visibility being below landing minima. After an initial failed approach and a decision to divert to Taipei, the crew was informed that conditions had improved, with general visibility at 0.5 miles (800m) and a Runway Visual Range (RVR) of 3,000 feet. They returned to Haneda for a GCA approach to Runway 33R. Despite a warning from the controller that they were 20 feet below the glide path, the aircraft continued its descent. Just before impact, the captain requested the runway lights be dimmed, possibly due to glare in the fog. The aircraft's landing gear struck approach light number 14, located 2,800 feet from the threshold, leading to a catastrophic collision with the seawall.
Final Conclusions
The Japanese investigation concluded the primary cause was pilot error, specifically misjudging the landing approach under unusually difficult weather conditions. Investigators noted that dense fog and deceptive light reflections over Tokyo Bay likely created an optical illusion (Black Hole illusion), confusing the pilot's perception of altitude and distance. The lack of flight recorders at the time left some specific cockpit actions unverified, but the physical evidence of a stable but low trajectory pointed to a controlled flight into terrain.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
Why Canadian Pacific Flight 402 Never Reached the Runway — A detailed breakdown of the 1966 DC-8 crash at Haneda Airport, exploring the weather conditions, the GCA approach, and the optical illusions that led to the disaster.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Cecil N. McNeal, age 57
First Officer
Charles F. K. Mews, age 58
Flight Engineer
William J. Robertson, age 34
Systems & Failure Modes
Ground Controlled Approach (GCA)
A radar-based landing system where a ground controller provides verbal instructions to the pilot to maintain the correct glide path.
Approach Lighting System
The aircraft struck 11 approach lights starting 2,800 feet from the runway threshold.
Interesting Facts
- 01The accident was one of five fatal air disasters in Japan during 1966.
- 02The wreckage was still smoldering when BOAC Flight 911 taxied past it the following day before its own fatal crash.
- 03The flight carried 62 passengers and 10 crew members; only 8 passengers survived while all crew perished.
- 04The aircraft, named 'Empress of Edmonton', had been in service for less than five months.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Visual Illusion Awareness
The accident highlighted the dangers of the 'Black Hole' and 'Fog' illusions during night approaches, leading to better pilot training regarding visual cues.