What happened
During a flight from Ilopecito City toward Manila, an aircraft encountered severe weather conditions and impacted the terrain of Mount Baco in the province of Occidental Mindoro. The wreckage was discovered approximately one week after the incident on the eastern slope of the mountain at an elevation of 1,829 meters.
At the time of the impact, the flight was operating approximately 51 km away from its intended course. The area was experiencing thunderstorm activity and low visibility. The accident resulted in 33 fatalities, with no survivors among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified a navigational error as the primary reason for the impact with the mountain slope. Several environmental and technical factors contributed to the event:
- Severe weather characterized by thunderstorms and poor visibility.
- Significant crosswinds originating from the east at speeds between 25 and 35 knots.
- Potential failure or unreliability of onboard navigation systems, likely caused by atmospheric disturbances, terrain interference, or mechanical malfunction.