[1] The weather had since improved behind a cold front with a steep pressure gradient, bringing cool dry air from the Asian mainland on a strong west-northwest flow, with crystal-clear sky conditions.

After takeoff, the aircraft made a continuous climbing right turn over Tokyo Bay and rolled out on a southwest heading, passing north of Odawara.

The New York Times wrote that, despite initial reports of fire and explosion, aviation experts were of the opinion that wind conditions around the volcanic cone may have caused the crash, the vicinity of the peak being notorious for its difficult air currents.

[12] The investigation report concluded that the aircraft crashed as a result of its encounter with "abnormally severe turbulence over Gotemba City which imposed a gust load considerably in excess of the design limit.

"[10] This accident was one of five fatal aircraft disasters—four commercial and one military—in Japan in 1966, and occurred less than 24 hours after Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 402 crashed and burned on landing at Haneda.

[14] The victims included a group of 75 Americans associated with the Thermo King company of Minneapolis, Minnesota, on a two-week company-sponsored tour of Japan and Southeast Asia.

[15][16] The victims also included actor and dancer Sonne Teal and four other female impersonators of Le Carrousel de Paris (reported to be named Kismie, Coco, Christine and Lady Cobra), who were performing on an international tour.

These passengers—Albert R. Broccoli, Harry Saltzman, Ken Adam, Lewis Gilbert and Freddie Young—were in Japan scouting locations for the fifth James Bond film, You Only Live Twice (1967).