Around 2:25PM on May 31, 2024, a Beechcraft Baron G58 landed at Kobe Airport without its landing gear deployed. The accident resulted in a temporary closure of the airport’s sole runway and some airline flight cancelations.
The aircraft involved in the accident belongs to Hirata Gakuen, a Kansai area-based flight school. According to the school, one instructor and two students were onboard the Baron registered JA212H. No injuries were reported.
At the time of the accident, the aircraft was doing touch-and-gos.
While not directly related to this accident, on May 28, 2024, Hirata Gakuen received a warning from the Osaka Civil Aviation Bureau due to improper maintenance and other issues related to the company’s operation of Doctor Heli service for Nagasaki Prefecture.
While no runway repairs were required after the accident, the runway remained closed between the accident and approximately 7:30PM to clear the aircraft away and inspect the runway.
During that period, operations at Kobe Airport were disrupted, leading to:
- Multiple Skymark Airlines flight cancelations affecting approximately 3,300 passengers
- Diversion of Fuji Dream Airlines flight Hanamaki to Nagoya Komaki and multiple cancelations
