Japanese King Air presumed lost - FSF

Status:	Preliminary
Date:	Monday 15 May 2017
Time:	11:47
Type:	Beechcraft LR-2 (B300 Super King Air 350)
Operator:	Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Registration:	23-057
C/n / msn:	FL-677
First flight:	2009
Crew:	Fatalities: / Occupants: 4
Passengers:	Fatalities: / Occupants: 0
Total:	Fatalities: / Occupants: 4
Airplane damage:	Missing
Airplane fate:	Presumed damaged beyond repair
Location:	Assabu, Hokkaido Island (   Japan)
Phase:	En route (ENR)
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	Sapporo-Okadama Airport (OKD/RJCO), Japan
Destination airport:	Hakodate Airport (HKD/RJCH), Japan

Narrative:
An LR-2 reconnaissance aircraft of Northern Army Aviation Group, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, carrying four persons, was en route to pick up a patient and is feared to have crashed. The accident airplane lost radar contact at 18 NM west of Hakodate Airport at 3000 feet. The LR-2 was called for an ambulance mission because the ambulance helicopters of local government could not fly due to bad weather at Hakodate. The LR-2 is a military variant of Super King Air 350.