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Ground explosion of a Boeing 737-3Y0 in Manila: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 737-300
Operator:
Registration:
EI-BZG
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Manila- Iloilo
MSN:
24466/1771
YOM:
1989
Flight number:
PR143
Location:
Manila-Ninoy Aquino
Metro Manila
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
114
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the center fuel tank had not been filled nor purged since March 9. It is possible that fuel vapors that accumulated in the central fuel tank ignited with the combination of high temperature (actual OAT 35° C) and a defect electric wire.

Crash of a BAc 111-516FP in Manila: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1989 at 1520 LT
Type of aircraft:
BAc 111
Operator:
Registration:
RP-C1193
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Zamboanga - Manila
MSN:
231
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
PR124
Location:
Manila-Ninoy Aquino
Metro Manila
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
93
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew who continued the approach with an unstable aircraft above the glide, causing the aircraft to land too far down the runway. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The landing distance available after touchdown was insufficient due to a late landing,
- The braking action was poor because the runway surface was wet,
- The visibility was poor due to heavy rain falls,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure despite caution from ATC,
- The crew failed to take the appropriate corrective actions in a timely manner.

Crash of a Short 360-330 near Iligan: 15 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1987 at 0720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short 360
Operator:
Registration:
EI-BTJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cebu City - Iligan
MSN:
3719
YOM:
1987
Flight number:
PR443
Location:
Iligan
Lanao del Norte
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Avro 748-209-2A near Baguio: 50 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1987 at 1103 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
RP-C1015
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Manila - Baguio
MSN:
1637
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
PR206
Location:
Baguio-Loakan
Benguet
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
46
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
50
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a BAc 111-527FK in Tacloban

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1984
Type of aircraft:
BAc 111
Operator:
Registration:
RP-C1182
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Manila – Tacloban
MSN:
246
YOM:
1974
Location:
Tacloban
Leyte
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
70
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
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.

Crash of an Avro 748-2-209A in Jolo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1982
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
RP-C1014
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Jolo - Kota Kinabalu
MSN:
1636
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
PR480
Location:
Jolo Island
Sulu
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
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.

Crash of a NAMC YS-11A-301 off Mactan

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1977
Type of aircraft:
NAMC YS-11
Operator:
Registration:
RP-C1419
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Butuan - Mactan
MSN:
2107
YOM:
1969
Location:
Mactan
Cebu
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
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.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-53 in Tokyo

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1977 at 1522 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-8
Operator:
Registration:
RP-C803
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tokyo - Manila
MSN:
45937
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
PR421
Location:
Tokyo-Haneda
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
127
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10750
Captain / Total hours on type:
601.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
8030
Copilot / Total hours on type:
194
Aircraft flight hours:
35862
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
The left elevator geared tab drive arm assemblies and the elevator gust lock crank assembly failed during the takeoff roll, causing the aircraft to liftoff prematurely and to be uncontrollable.
Final Report:

Ground fire of a BAc 111-527FK in Zamboanga: 13 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1976 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
BAc 111
Operator:
Registration:
RP-C1161
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Davao City - Manila
MSN:
213
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
PR116
Location:
Zamboanga City
Zamboanga Sibugay
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
82
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
Caught fire after few grenades exploded in the cabin following a hijacking on May 21.

Crash of an Avro 748-2-222 in Manila

Date & Time: May 10, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
RP-C1029
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Manila - Puerto Princesa
MSN:
1586
YOM:
1965
Location:
Manila-Ninoy Aquino
Metro Manila
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
39
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a tire burst during the takeoff run and ignited shortly prior to rotation. After the pilots retracted the landing gear, the molten tire fired various equipment located in the wheel well and later to the engine that caught fire.
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