What happened
A special flight traveling from Laoag to Nichols AFB (Manila Intl Airport) ended in a fatal accident while approaching runway 06. The aircraft was transporting a group of passengers, including members of the government security agency, police officers, soldiers, and journalists, all returning to Manila following celebrations for the 61st anniversary of President Ferdinand Marcos.
During the final approach phase, the aircraft experienced a loss of altitude in adverse weather conditions. The plane struck ten residential houses before coming to rest in a swampy area situated several hundred meters before the runway threshold. The impact resulted in 21 fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft and 12 deaths on the ground. While 7 people on board were successfully rescued, 20 individuals on the ground sustained serious injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the primary reason for the loss of altitude during the final approach was windshear. At the time of the incident, the area was experiencing severe weather characterized by heavy rainfall, thunderstorm activity, turbulence, and wind speeds reaching up to 35 knots.