Philippine Airlines - PAL

Airbus A320

Following an uneventful flight from Manila-Ninoy Aquino Airport, the crew started the approach to Butuan Airport in good weather conditions. After landing on runway 12/30 which is 1,965 metres long, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, went down an embankment and came to rest in a coconut grove. The cockpit was partially destroyed and both pilots were seriously injured while 32 passengers escaped with minor injuries. 120 other occupants were unhurt and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Airbus A320

Flight PR137 was a regular scheduled passenger flight and departed Manila for Bacolod at 18:40. The airplane departed with the thrust reverser of engine n°1 inoperative. At 19:20, PR137 called Bacolod Approach Control and reported passing FL260 and 55 DME to Bacolod . The crew then requested landing instructions and was instructed to descend to FL90 after passing Iloilo and descend to 3,000 feet for a VOR runway 04 approach. Wind was 030° at 08 kts, altimeter 1014 mbs, transition level at FL60 and temperature at 28°C. At 19:28, the flight requested to intercept the final approach to runway 04 and Approach Control replied "PR 137 visual approach on final". At 19:37, Bacolod Tower cleared the flight to land at runway 04 and the clearance was acknowledged by the pilot. The approach was flown with the Autothrust system was engaged in SPEED mode. The thrust lever of engine no.1 was left in Climb detent. Upon touchdown the first officer called out "no spoilers, no reverse, no decel". Engine no.2 was set to full reverse thrust after touchdown, but the engine no .1 thrust lever was not retarded to idle and remained in the climb power position. Consequently, the spoilers did not deploy. Because one engine was set to reverse, the autothrust system automatically disengaged. With the autothrust disengaged, no. 1 engine thrust increased to climb thrust. Due to the asymmetrical thrust condition, the A320 ran off the right side of the runway. At this speed, rudder and nosewheel steering are ineffective. Engine no.2 was moved out of reverse up to more than 70 percent N1 and the airplane swerved back onto the runway. The A320 continued past the runway end. The aircraft hit the airport perimeter fence and then jumped over a small river. It continued to slice through a hallow block fence where it went through several clusters of shanties and trees. No fire ensued after the crash.

Boeing 737-300

Parked at Manila-Ninoy Aquino Airport, the aircraft was ready for its flight to Iloilo City with 114 passengers and a crew of six on board. While being pushed back, the aircraft suffered three explosions and caught fire. 80 people escaped with minor injuries while 31 others escaped uninjured. Unfortunately, eight passengers died.

BAc 111

On approach to Manila-Ninoy Aquino Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with strong winds and heavy rain falls. On final, the crew was informed by ATC he was too high on the glide and it would preferable to initiate a go-around. The captain continued the approach and the touchdown was made too far down a wet runway 06. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, went through a concrete wall, lost its undercarriage and came to rest on a motorway, hitting several vehicles. A passenger died as well as eight people on the ground. All other occupants on board the airplane were rescued, among them 87 were injured as well as 19 people on the ground.

Short 360

The crew started the approach to Iligan-Maria Cristina Airport in good weather conditions but the visibility was limited due to the night. On approach, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Gurain located about 16 km south from runway 02 threshold. All 15 occupants were killed.

Avro 748

On approach to Baguio-Loakan Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, thunderstorm activity and heavy rain falls. In low visibility, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Ugo (2,100 meters high) located 19 km southeast of the airport. The wreckage was found 80 meters below the summit, near the Ambuklao Dam. All 50 occupants were killed.

BAc 111

After landing on runway 36 at Tacloban Airport, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest in the sea. All 75 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Avro 748

During the takeoff roll at Jolo Airport, at V1 speed, the captain heard two loud bangs apparently coming from the left engine and decided to abandon the takeoff procedure. He initiated an emergency braking maneuver but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, went through a concrete wall and eventually collided with a bulldozer. Three passengers and a crew member were killed while 26 other occupants were injured.

NAMC YS-11

On final approach to Mactan Island, the crew encountered technical problems with the left engine. The airplane lost height and crashed into the sea few km offshore. All 25 occupants were rescued while the aircraft sank by a depth of about 5 meters. It appears the turbine temperature was 850° C.

Douglas DC-8

The crew was cleared to takeoff from runway 15L and started the takeoff procedure. After a course of about 1,000 meters, the airplane lifted off prematurely. It banked left, causing the left wing to struck the ground. Out of control, the airplane landed back onto the runway then went out of control. It veered off runway to the left and while contacting soft ground, all landing gear were torn off as well as all four engines. The airplane slid for about 800 meters before coming to rest. All 140 occupants were evacuated, three of them were injured. The aircraft was written off.

BAc 111

On 21 May 1976, while completing flight PR116 from Davao City to Manila, the airplane was hijacked by six passengers who forced the pilot to divert to Zamboanga. At Zamboanga Airport, the hijackers demanded a ransom of US$ 375,000 and a plane for Libya. Few hostages (women and children) were released the second day. On May 23, security forces (Police and Army) decided to put an end to the hostage situation. Shots were exchanged between police forces and hijackers and few grenades exploded in the cabin. Ten passengers and three hijackers were killed while 23 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Avro 748

Shortly after takeoff from Manila Intl Airport, while in initial climb, the crew declared an emergency and informed ATC that an engine caught fire and exploded. The crew was cleared to return but as the captain realized he could not make it, he decided to attempt a belly landing in an open field located few km from the airport. The aircraft crash landed and slid for dozen metres before coming to rest. All 43 occupants were able to evacuate the aircraft and only two passengers were slightly injured. The aircraft was written off.

Avro 748

Shortly after takeoff from runway 30, while in initial climb, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the right engine and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. The pilot-in-command initiated a turn to join the runway 06 approach path when the airplane stalled and crashed in flames in a rice paddy field located 4,8 km from the airport. A passenger was seriously injured while 32 other occupants were killed. Few hours later, the only survivor died from his injuries.

Avro 748

For unknown reason, the twin engine airplane landed hard on runway 23. It bounced twice when the nose gear collapsed. Out of control, the airplane veered off runway to the left then came to rest. While all 28 occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Fokker F27 Friendship

After touchdown, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest with its right wing partially torn off. All 29 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Fokker F27 Friendship

The takeoff procedure from Iligan-Maria Christina Airport was attempted by zero visibility due to foggy conditions. For unknown reasons, the airplane was unable to rotate, overran and crashed on sandpile and rockspile. The copilot was killed while several passengers were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Avro 748

While cruising at an altitude of 10,500 feet, the airplane suffered an explosion. It went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a field located near Cabanatuan. All 36 occupants have been killed.

BAc 111

On final approach to Manila Intl Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed in flames some 22 km from the runway 24 threshold. A crew member (steward) and a passenger were rescued while 45 other occupants were killed.

Fokker F27 Friendship

The crew departed Bacolod Airport at 1833LT on a flight to Mactan. About ten minutes later, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Kanlaon located 34 km southeast of Bacolod Airport. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 21 occupants were killed. The crew was flying under VFR mode in IMC conditions when the accident occured.

Fokker F27 Friendship

Flight 345 was a scheduled domestic flight from Manila to Mactan. It departed Manila at 1720 hours on an IFR clearance direct to Mactan, via Amber 1 at flight level 130. At 1908 hours the flight reported to Mactan Control Approach that it was descending through FL 70. It was cleared to FL 50, given an altimeter setting of 29.81 in Hg and requested to report at FL 60. At 1909 hours the flight requested a visual descent from FL 50 to 30 and at 1913 hours it reported commencing a VOR approach to runway 04. At 1917 hours the flight reported on final and Mactan Approach cleared the flight to land, giving the wind as 330'15 kt. The flight acknowledged the clearance and this was the last communication from the aircraft. Whilst on a long final approach commenced from a height of 1 500 feet approximately 4 miles from the runway threshold, the aircraft suddenly assumed a nose-high attitude and additional power was applied. A crew member then came out of the cockpit and spoke in the direction of a number of supernumerary crew travelling in the passenger compartment instructing them to move forward. Moments later a flight attendant came from the cockpit and instructed everybody to move forward. Before all the passengers could comply, the air- craft started banking alternately to the right and left, descending in a tail low attitude and crashed at approximately 1918 hours 0.9 miles before the threshold of runway 04. At 1919 hours the aerodrome controller observed a fire near-the approach end of runway 04 and alerted the emergency services. All four crew members and eight passengers were killed, seven others survived.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Flight 785 was a scheduled domestic VFR flight from Manila to San Jose with an intermediate stop at Mamburao. The aircraft departed Manila at 1030 hours local time and arrived at Mamburao after an uneventful flight. It then took off from Mamburao at 1204 hours. At 1215 hours, the flight requested terminal weather information from San Jose Radio Station. The requested information was transmitted but was not acknowledged. A witness stated that at approximately that same time he had observed an aircraft flying at very low altitude towards the mountain on a heading of approximately 065° and that, soon after, the aircraft disappeared from sight, he heard a loud explosion coming from the mountains east of his position. Subsequent efforts of San Jose Radio Station to contact the flight on both VHF and HF frequencies proved unsuccessful. In the afternoon of 1 July 1966 the wreckage of the aircraft was found at 2,300 feet AMSL in a ravine at the northern slope of Mt Rabangan (altitude 3,500 feet) which is approximately midway between Mamburao and San Jos6 and approximately 10 nautical miles inland. Two passengers were seriously injured while 26 other occupants were killed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Flight 741 was a scheduled domestic flight from Manila to Tacloban with stopovers at Legaspi and Calbayog. The aircraft took off from runway 13 at Manila at 1032 hours Philippines local time with the co-pilot flying the aircraft from the right hand seat. When airborne he ordered the pilot-in-command to raise the landing gear. After having done so the pilot-in-command noticed that the aircraft was veering slightly to the left although the indications of the engine instruments were normal. The co-pilot stated that the right rudder seemed to be jammed. The pilot-in-command then took over the controls. At this time the aircraft was continuously and gradually turning and banking to the left. The pilot-in-command then ordered the co-pilot to check the engine instruments again, and their indications were found to be normal. Both engines were at MET0 power setting and the airspeed was 110 mph. When the aircraft reached 150 ft above the ground, at a heading of 050° and an airspeed of 85 to 90 mph, the left bank and turn were momentarily checked and the right rudder pedal was then forward. The co-pilot attempted to call the control tower, but the transmission was garbled. The aircraft then went back to its left bank attitude in spite of the effort of the pilot-in-command to control the turn. When he noticed that the airspeed had dropped to between 85 to 90 mph he pushed the control yoke to gain airspeed but there was no reaction. At this time the pilot-in- command felt that the left wing had hit something. He tried in vain to control and keep the aircraft in the air. The plane crashed on barracks. A passenger was killed while 10 other people were injured, among them five people on the ground. All other occupants were unhurt.

De Havilland DHC-3 Otter

Prior to his departure from Siocon Airport, the pilot was informed about the poor weather conditions enroute and at destination. Despite the visibility was below the minima, he decided to start the flight. While flying under VFR mode in heavy rain falls, the single engine airplane struck a hill and was destroyed. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 11 occupants have been killed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The aircraft departed Malabang at 1540LT under VFR rules in good weather conditions. While overflying the Lanao Lake at an altitude of 2,300 feet, weather conditions worsened but the captain decided to continue under VFR mode. Approaching Marawi in poor visibility, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and disintegrated on impact. A passenger survived while 31 other occupants were killed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Flight 984 was on a scheduled domestic flight from Zamboanga to Davao, with an intermediate stop at Cotabato. It departed Cotabato at 0940 hours, with a crew of three and twenty-four passengers, estimating Davao at 1025 hours. At 1002 hours the flight reported to the Company radio station at Cotabato that it was halfway to Davao, at Flight level 60, descending. Later on, it contacted the Company radio station at Davao and requested the Davao weather. After having received weather information the flight advised that its arrival would be delayed on account of bad weather. No aircraft difficulty was reported and this was the last message from the flight. When the aircraft failed to arrive, 30 minutes after its ETA a search was started. The aircraft was subsequently found on Mt. Boca, approximately 50 miles SE of Davao Airport, where it had crashed at an altitude of 3 000 ft around 1130 hours. All 27 occupants were killed.

Douglas DC-3

Crashed on landing and came to rest in flames. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Fokker F27 Friendship

Shortly after takeoff from Manila-Intl Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the suburb of Parañaque located south of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed while there were no casualties on the ground. The crew was involved in a local training flight at the time of the accident.

De Havilland DHC-3 Otter

The single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Mutya, killing both occupants. The wreckage was found about 60 km south of the intended route.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Just after liftoff from runway 03, while in initial climb, the captain informed ATC about the failure of the left engine. He received the permission to return for an emergency landing but the airplane stalled, banked left and crashed in a huge explosion about 4 km from the airfield. Both pilots and 26 passengers were killed while nine other occupants were injured.

Douglas DC-3

While flying in poor weather conditions on a flight from Iloilo City to Manila, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Baco located in the occidental Mindoro province. The wreckage was found a week later, on the east slope of the mountain, at an altitude of 1,829 meters. All 33 occupants were killed in the crash. At the time of the accident, the airplane was off course by 51 km and weather conditions were poor with thunderstorm activity.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

While descending to Zamboanga City Airport, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew was instructed by ATC to divert to Davao City located 400 km east to their actual position. The crew modified his itinerary and while flying over the Moro Gulf, both engines failed. The captain reduced his altitude and ditched the aircraft about 40 km off Cotabato City. All 31 occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer

On touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All three crew members who were conducting a local training flight were injured and the aircraft was irreparable.

De Havilland DHC-3 Otter

At approximately 1310 hours PI-C55 took off from Ozamis City Airport for Pagadian on a scheduled flight with a pilot, nine passengers and two infants on board. Following a normal take-off and climb, the aircraft, at an altitude of 75 ft, was seen on a steep climb followed by a steep turn to the left. It then suddenly lost altitude, hit two trees and crashed in a nose-down attitude. Fire broke out immediately. The pilot and one passenger were killed, all 10 other occupants were injured.

Douglas DC-6

On final approach to Rome-Ciampino Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. While descending through clouds at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the crew informed ground about fire on right engine. It is believed that both right engines were on fire at this time. The pilot-in-command reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing when, at a height of 650 feet, the airplane plunged into the earth and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located about six km east of Ciampino Airfield. The four engine aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 16 occupants have been killed. A crater was seen at the point of impact and debris were scattered on a wide area.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Just after liftoff, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed. Eight passengers and two crew members were killed while 19 other occupants were injured.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

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.

Douglas DC-3

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

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

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.

Douglas DC-6

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.

Douglas DC-3

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.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crashed on landing. No casualties.

Douglas DC-3

Belly landed for unknown reason. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and there were no casualties.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

For unknown reason, the crew was forced to make an emergency landing on a beach in Cebu City. The aircraft was written off but there were no casualties.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

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).

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

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.