Incident Overview
On a charter flight from Naga Airport to Manila, a twin-engine airplane departed at 1524 local time. While descending to Manila-Intl Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions characterized by low clouds and thunderstorm activity. The aircraft subsequently struck the slope of Mount Palagyo, located approximately 42 kilometers northeast of Manila Airport.
Search and Recovery
Search and rescue operations were initiated following the loss of communication, but the wreckage was located only 11 days later. The site was in a remote mountainous area.
Aircraft and Occupants
The aircraft was destroyed upon impact. All eight occupants on board were killed, among them Gerhard König, Ambassador of Germany to the Philippines. No other details about the aircraft, such as registration or model, were provided in the source.
Official Findings
The official probable cause was determined to be controlled flight into terrain.