Investigation Summary
The investigation revealed a series of critical decisions that led to the disaster. The Lockheed Electra had a history of maintenance issues, including an inoperable transponder and recent problems with the number 3 engine. During the takeoff roll on runway 06L, the number 3 propeller feathered before the aircraft reached its rotation speed (Vr). Under these conditions, the standard procedure would have been to abort the takeoff on the remaining 2,500 feet of runway. Instead, the captain continued. Once airborne, the aircraft struggled to gain altitude, reaching only about 100 feet. In an attempt to clean up the aircraft, the crew retracted the flaps. On the Electra, the flaps provide significant lift. Their premature retraction at low speed and low altitude caused the aircraft to sink. The plane entered a nose-high, laterally unstable attitude and struck a hill 4,300 feet beyond the runway end.
Final Conclusions
The NTSB determined the probable cause was the loss of climb capability resulting from the crew's decision to retract flaps at an altitude too low to clear rising terrain following an engine failure. A major contributing factor was the captain's decision to continue the takeoff after the engine failed before the aircraft had reached rotation speed.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Roberto Javalera, 46. Worked for Air Manila since 1964; license valid until August 1976. Required to wear glasses for far-sightedness.
First Officer
Ernesto Nacion, 40. Worked for Air Manila since 1968. Certified as a reserve captain for the L-188 Electra in 1975.
Flight Engineer
Johnathan Javalera, 32. Worked for Air Manila since February 1969.
Relief Officer
Salvador Bello, 33. Worked for Air Manila since February 1970.
Systems & Failure Modes
Propeller Feathering System
The number 3 propeller feathered automatically or was feathered by the crew during the takeoff roll, resulting in a total loss of thrust from that engine.
Flaps
Retraction of the flaps at low speed and low altitude removed the necessary lift required to clear the rising terrain southwest of the airport.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was 18 years old, originally delivered to Eastern Airlines in 1958.
- 02The number 3 engine failure occurred before the aircraft reached rotation speed (Vr).
- 03The crash resulted in 45 fatalities on board and 1 fatality on the ground.
- 04Maintenance logs showed the transponder was inoperable and previous pilots had reported issues with the number 3 engine.
- 05The aircraft dragged along the ground for 220 feet before sliding off a 13-foot embankment.
Safety Actions & Advisories
NTSB Operational Guidance
The NTSB emphasized that flight crews must strictly adhere to V-speed criteria for aborting takeoffs and warned against the premature retraction of flaps during emergency climbs, particularly in aircraft where flaps provide a significant portion of total lift.