2 fatalities

Crash of Aircraft PI-C55 after Takeoff in Ozamis City

Ozamis City, PhilippinesTakeoff (climb)

On December 11, 1957, a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter (registration PI-C55) operated by Philippine Airlines - PAL was involved in an aviation accident near Ozamis City, Philippines during takeoff. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The probable cause of the accident was the uncontrollable stall at low altitude which resulted from the abrupt steep climb immediately after takeoff. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

Aircraft PI-C55 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ozamis City Airport, killing the pilot and one passenger and injuring 10 others. Investigators cited an uncontrollable stall due to abrupt climb.

Accident

At approximately 1310 hours, aircraft with registration PI-C55 departed from Ozamis City Airport on a scheduled flight to Pagadian. On board were the pilot, nine passengers, and two infants. After a normal takeoff and climb, the aircraft reached an altitude of 75 feet when it initiated a steep climb, followed by a steep left turn. It then suddenly lost altitude, struck two trees, and crashed in a nose-down attitude. A fire immediately broke out. The pilot and one passenger were killed; all other 10 occupants sustained injuries.

Investigation

The official investigation determined the probable cause of the accident. The report did not specify the aircraft type, operator, or engine count. No further details about weather conditions or ATC communications were provided beyond the contributing factors noted in the probable cause.

Probable Cause

The probable cause of the accident was the uncontrollable stall at low altitude which resulted from the abrupt steep climb immediately after takeoff. Contributing factors were: - The improper loading of the aircraft, - The prevailing gusty wind with a relatively high ambient temperature.