What happened
On the afternoon of the accident, a charter flight operated from Ozamis City back to Manila International Airport departed Ozamis at approximately 15:50LT. The aircraft, a C-45F Beechcraft registered as PI-C622, was carrying one pilot and five passengers. During the flight, the crew established radio contact with Manila Tower at roughly 18:30LT, reporting their position over Batangas Province while en route to Manila.
At that time, the pilot inquired about the current weather conditions near the destination airport. After receiving the 18:00LT weather report, the aircraft continued its flight path. Subsequent attempts by air traffic control to reach the aircraft at 19:00LT and 19:30LT were unsuccessful. Later that evening, around 20:30LT, the Manila Tower was notified by the Rescue Coordinating Centre that the plane had crashed in a forested region of Mt Makiling near Tanauan. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and six fatalities.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the pilot attempted to maneuver beneath an active, severe thunderstorm to avoid the storm cells. This decision to fly at a lower altitude led to a ground collision. During the period of the accident, the area was experiencing extreme weather conditions, including heavy rain, lightning, high turbulence, and near-zero visibility and ceiling. While evidence suggested the right engine may have been feathered at an altitude of 1,500 feet, investigators determined the aircraft maintained enough performance to climb. No mechanical or maintenance issues with the airframe or engines were identified as contributing factors; rather, the attempt to fly below the thunderstorm was the primary cause.