Manila | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Christened 'Mount Pinatubo', the airplane departed Cebu City past 0130LT bound for the capital city, carrying journalist, members of the government and Ramon Magsaysay, President of the Republic of The Philippines. While climbing by night, the right engine lost power then failed. The crew was unable to maintain a safe altitude when the airplane struck the slope of Mt Manunggal located about 35 km northwest of the Airport. Rescuers arrived on the scene in the early morning and a passenger, a journalist of the 'Philippine Herald' was seriously injured and evacuated while 25 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the failure of the spindle drive shaft on the carburetor that snapped during climb, causing the right engine to fail.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL in Cebu City: 12 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

PI-C5

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cebu City – Manila

MSN:

9754

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from runway 22, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion in a popular area located about 500 meters from the airfield. The airplane disintegrated on impact and several houses were destroyed. Twelve people were killed (all three crew members and nine people on the ground) while nine others were injured, some of them seriously.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner off Manila: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Martin PBM Mariner

Operator:

Registration:

85148

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

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Circumstances:

For unknown reason, the seaplane landed hard on the bay off Manila. On touchdown, the aircraft went out of control and sank. Three crew members were killed and five others were rescuers. The airplane was lost.

Crash of a Douglas R5D-3 Skymaster off Roi-Namur: 26 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1950 at 0520 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

56496

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Honolulu – Roi-Namur – Manille

MSN:

10624

YOM:

1945

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Circumstances:

Three minutes after its takeoff from runway 04 at Roi-Namur-Dyess Airport, while in initial climb by night, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea some 2,5 km off shore. The aircraft sank by few hundred yards and all 26 occupants were killed. Only few debris were found.

Probable cause:

Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. Nevertheless, investigators pinpointed the following findings:
- The captain was distracted while the first officer was looking for different radio frequencies,
- Apparent failure of some instruments,
- A sudden power loss on two engines on the same side of the plane, #1 & 2 or # 3 & 4,
- Engagement of the autopilot system by a person not entitled to do so, apparently by a person other than the two pilots,
- A lateral loss of control as a result of the malfunction of flaps that have been deployed in an asymmetric position,
- Technical issue on the primary control system,
- A structural failure that probably occurred on the extremity of both wings and on the tail simultaneously.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DK in Iloilo City: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

PI-C22

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Iloilo City – Manila

MSN:

12628

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances few minutes after its takeoff from Iloilo City. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK into the Lamon Bay: 13 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1949 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

PI-C98

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Daet – Manila

MSN:

16743/33491

YOM:

1945

Location:

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Circumstances:

En route from Daet to Manila, the aircraft exploded in the air and crashed into the Lamon Bay. Few debris were found in water and all 13 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Disintegration of the aircraft in the air due to the explosion of a time bomb placed in the rear of the cabin by two ex-convicts who were hired for the job by a woman and a man who were attempting to kill the woman's husband, a passenger in the aircraft.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Hong Kong: 23 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1949 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

VR-HDG

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Manila – Hong Kong

MSN:

20576

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Circumstances:

While approaching Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport from the south, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the visibility was very limited. In such conditions, the captain decided to make a go around when the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near the Braemar Reservoir located 3 km southwest of the runway 31 threshold. All 23 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6 in Wake Island

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

PI-C291

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Manila - Wake Island

MSN:

43060/100

YOM:

1948

Location:

Wake Island

United States Minor Outlying Islands

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

After landing at Wake Island Airport, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties to stop, overran and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Cebu City

Date & Time: May 17, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

PI-C143

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Cebu City – Manila

MSN:

13780

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field. All 17 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.