Flight 6005 Collision with Mt Kamunay (N461PA)

Flight Details and Timeline on 24 July 1971 Flight 6005 was a scheduled international cargo flight operating from San Francisco to Saigon, with intermediate stops at Honolulu, Guam, and Manila. The legs from San Francisco to Honolulu and Guam were uneventful. At 2125 hours GMT on 24 July 1971, the flight departed Guam for Manila. Manila Control established initial contact at 2400 hours and provided the latest weather information for Manila. At 0013 hours, the flight reported passing Jamalig one minute earlier, at 67 DME and out of FL 200. Manila Control then handed the flight over to Manila approach control. The approach controller cleared the flight to BA and provided weather information: wind 280°/20 kts, visibility 7 km, light rain, cloud 3/8 at 4,000 ft and 8/8 at 9,000 ft. At 0018 hours, the flight was cleared for a VOR/DME approach to Runway 24 from the Bangbang Intersection. One minute later, the flight reported commencing the approach. At 0021 hours, the flight reported 22 DME out of 5,000 ft for 4,000 ft, and 20 seconds later reached 4,200 ft. The controller acknowledged this but was unable to establish further contact. ## Accident and Aftermath It was subsequently found that at approximately 0023 hours, the aircraft collided with Mt Kamunay, some 20 miles ENE of the Manila VOR, at an altitude of 2,525 ft. Witnesses near the scene reported hearing the sound of an aircraft that ceased in an explosion, followed by two other explosions. The aircraft was totally destroyed, and all four crew members were killed.