What happened
In the early hours of the flight, an aircraft nicknamed 'Mount Pinatubo' departed from Cebu City, headed toward the Philippine capital. The flight was carrying several notable passengers, including government officials and the President of the Philippines, Ramon Magsaysay.
During the initial climb phase at night, the aircraft experienced a loss of power in its right engine, which subsequently failed completely. Due to this mechanical failure, the crew could not sustain enough altitude to clear the terrain. The plane ultimately impacted the slope of Mt Manunggal, situated approximately 35 km northwest of the destination airport.
Emergency responders reached the wreckage the following morning. The accident resulted in 25 fatalities among the occupants. One passenger, a journalist, sustained serious injuries and was successfully evacuated from the site.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the primary cause was a mechanical failure within the engine system. Specifically, the spindle drive shaft on the carburetor snapped during the climb, which directly led to the loss of power in the right engine.