Date: December 16, 1975
Type: Boeing 747-246
Registration: JA8122
Operator: Japan Air Lines Co., Ltd.
Where: Anchorage, Alaska
Report No. NTSB-AAR-76-12
Report Date: March 31, 1976
Pages: 28

About 2055 Alaska standard time, December 16, 1975, Japan Air Lines Co., 
Ltd., Flight 422, slid off the north side of the east-west taxiway of 
Anchorage International Airport while taxiing out for a takeoff on runway 
6R. The aircraft weathercocked about 70! to the left and slid backward 
down a snow-covered embankment with an average slope of -13 degrees. The 
aircraft came to rest on a heading of 150! on a service road 
approximately 250 feet from, and 50 feet below, the taxiway surface.

Of the 121 persons on board, 2 were inured seriously. The aircraft was 
damaged substantially by impact; there was no fire.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable 
cause of this accident was the loss of directional control during taxi as 
a result of ice on the taxiway and strong, direct crosswinds.

Contributing to the accident were 1) the captain's decision to take off 
from runway 6R after receiving reports that taxiing conditions were 
deteriorating, and (2) failure of airport management to anticipate 
predictable unsafe icing conditions on the airport. This failure to 
anticipate these conditions resulted in delayed and insufficient 
preventive action.