Flight and Approach
The flight was being conducted as a route check for a captain, with another captain serving as Pilot Monitoring. The en route portion was uneventful. The aircraft was conducting an ILS approach to runway 05 when the controller reported that the aircraft would be behind Philippine Airlines flight 809, an Airbus A319.
Missed Approach Confusion
As the Boeing 737 broke out of clouds, the A319 was observed on runway 05. The Pilot Flying informed ATC of an intention to perform a 360° maneuver. However, the Pilot Monitoring advised ATC of the opposite, stating that the aircraft would turn right instead of following the missed approach procedure, which called for a left turn to a 020° heading.
Descent Below Glide Path
The aircraft re-entered clouds and attempted to fly visually at a lower altitude in instrument conditions, when it should have climbed to 4,000 feet. The flight continued over Samal Island and requested a VOR/DME approach and landing in the opposite direction (runway 23), which was approved by the controller. After aligning with the runway heading, the aircraft descended below the normal glide path for this approach. It continued down to 570 feet at a point where the aircraft should have been at 1,500 feet.
Impact and Destruction
The aircraft crashed into a coconut plantation on a hillside in Barangay San Isidro, disintegrated, and caught fire. All 131 occupants were killed.