Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Hong Kong: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PI-C12
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Manila – Hong Kong
MSN:
13508
YOM:
1944
Location:
Hong Kong-Kai Tak
Hong Kong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On final approach to Kai Tak Airport, while at an altitude of 1,570 feet, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Parker and crashed, killing all four crew members. The wreckage was found few dozen feet from the summit of the mountain (1,723 feet high).

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-DO Skymaster off Laoag: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Far East Air Transport
Registration:
PI-C100
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Shanghai – Manila
MSN:
3106
YOM:
1943
Location:
Laoag
Ilocos Norte
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While flying about 130 km off Laoag, the engine number two caught fire. The captain decided to ditch the aircraft. Seven passengers were killed while 35 other occupants were rescued. The aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK on Mt Banahao: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Far East Air Transport
Registration:
PI-C1
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Manila – Lucena
MSN:
13991/25436
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lucena
Quezon
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While descending to Lucena Airport in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Banahao located about 20 km northwest of Lucena. A passenger and a crew member were rescued while 12 other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Manila

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Far East Air Transport
Registration:
PI-C92
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
12672
YOM:
1944
Location:
Manila
Metro Manila
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Cotabato

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PI-C59
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Manila – Davao City
MSN:
19254
YOM:
1943
Location:
Cotabato City
Maguindanao
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and lost his orientation. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing and the aircraft crash landed in a swampy area. While all five occupants escaped unhurt, the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-5-NT Liberator into the Celebes Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
A72-378
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Manila – Darwin
MSN:
861
Location:
Celebes Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Enroute, both left engines (number one and two) failed. The captain lost control of the aircraft that crashed into the Celebes Sea but was able to report his exact position. On scene, the crew of 'HMS Opposum' was able to evacuate eight wounded people while two others were killed.
Crew (23rd Squadron):
W/Cdr J. Handbury, pilot,
W/O F. Welsh, copilot,
F/Lt P. Mathews, navigator, †
W/O C. McKenzie, wireless operator,
W/O W. Nesbitt, radar operator,
W/O R. Smith, flight engineer,
F/Sgt D. Norton, flight engineer,
Cpl E. Pye, fitter.
Passengers:
Cpt J. McFadden,
Lt J. Potten. †
Probable cause:
Double engine failure for unknown reason.

Crash of a Douglas R5D-1 in Manila

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
39147
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3104
YOM:
1943
Location:
Manila
Metro Manila
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Manila Airport, the four engine aircraft was too low and hit a hill. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-49A-DO off Tacloban: 16 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1945 at 2015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CDC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Manila – Tacloban
MSN:
3282
YOM:
1941
Location:
Tacloban
Leyte
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The approach to Tacloban was performed in poor weather conditions. The aircraft landed hard and after touchdown, the captain decided to go around, increased power on both engines, pull up the control column and attempted a go around. The aircraft climbed to a height of 200 feet, passed few meters from the control tower, continued over the sea and eventually crashed into the sea about a mile offshore. Rescue teams arrived on the scene about five hours later and a passenger was rescued while 16 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, weather conditions at Tacloban were considered as poor with heavy rain falls, strong winds and low visibility due to night. Fuel reserve were sufficient to divert to another airport and the crew underestimated the situation and continued the approach despite the low visibility and poor weather. Following this tragedy, night operations will be prohibited on Philippines airports for USAAF.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Manila: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-64
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Manila
Metro Manila
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Australia following a mining mission of the Manila Bay. In unknown circumstances, the seaplane crash off Manila, maybe into the Manila Bay. The wreckage was eventually discovered in early 2019.
Thanks to Maree Oddy for his testimony here below.
Final Report:

Crash of a Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor S-1 off Manila

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1938 at 2225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor
Operator:
Registration:
D-ACON
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tokyo – Manila – Hanoi – Karachi – Basra – Berlin
MSN:
2000
YOM:
1938
Location:
Manila
Metro Manila
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Germany following a promotional tour in Far East. While approaching Manila, all four engines stopped. The Captain ditched the aircraft off Manille. All eight occupants were rescued and the aircraft named 'Brandenburg' was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It appears that the engine failure was caused by a mismanagement of the fuel system (fuel selector) on part of the crew.
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