Japan Airlines Flight 301 was a scheduled domestic flight operated using a Douglas DC-6B aircraft, which crashed on Izu Ōshima Island, Japan. The flight was en route from Osaka to Tokyo and encountered adverse weather conditions shortly before its landing. As the aircraft descended, it was reportedly obscured by thick fog and faced strong wind shear due to the mountainous terrain of the region, including Mount Mihara, an active volcano. The crew's struggle to navigate through these challenging conditions ultimately resulted in the aircraft's loss of altitude and subsequent crash into the mountainside.

This incident occurred at a time when Japan was beginning to modernize its aviation sector following World War II. The tragedy highlighted issues related to weather forecasting and aviation safety protocols, prompting a reevaluation of air traffic control systems in Japan. Emergency response teams faced challenges reaching the remote crash site, which added to the difficulties in recovering the victims and investigating the crash.

Among the 59 individuals on board, 37 fatalities were reported, including passengers and crew members, while the rest survived with varying degrees of injury. The crash underscored the need for enhanced training for pilots to cope with challenging weather conditions, and it became a part of the dialogues surrounding aviation safety improvements that were necessary in the growing industry.