4 fatalities

Unresolved Maritime Crash Near Davao City Airport (RP-C138)

Davao City, PhilippinesFlight

On October 31, 1984, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration RP-C138) operated by Village Airways (Philippines) was involved in an aviation accident near Davao City, Philippines in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into the sea shortly after departing Davao City Airport. Search and rescue efforts failed to locate the wreckage or the four occupants, leaving the exact cause of the accident undetermined due to a lack of physical evidence.

Incident Overview

Shortly after taking off from Davao City Airport, an aircraft lost control and crashed into the sea. The specific circumstances leading to the loss of control remain unknown, as no definitive data was recovered from the site.

Search and Recovery Efforts

Search and rescue (SAR) operations were initiated immediately following the incident. However, these efforts proved unsuccessful in locating any debris or survivors. Consequently, the wreckage of the aircraft and all four individuals on board were never found.

Investigation Findings

The official investigation concluded that the precise cause of the accident could not be established. This determination was made due to a complete lack of physical evidence, as no wreckage or black box data was recovered from the maritime environment.

Probable cause

Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.