Investigation Summary
Shortly after departing Runway 31 at Manila, the Fokker F-27 experienced a dual engine failure. The crew initially intended to return to the airport but quickly determined the aircraft could not maintain sufficient altitude or glide distance. They executed a water landing in Manila Bay, where the fuselage broke apart upon impact. Local fishermen and the Philippine Coast Guard conducted rescue operations, saving 15 individuals including the flight crew and a high-ranking Catholic bishop. The subsequent investigation focused on the technical state of the aircraft and the qualifications of the crew. It was discovered that the Captain had allegedly submitted counterfeit training records from a facility in California that he never actually attended. Furthermore, the airline's owner and chief mechanic were arrested for working without valid permits, and the airline itself was found to be operating scheduled flights despite only being authorized for non-scheduled operations.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded on January 10, 2003, that the primary cause of the accident was pilot error. The flight crew failed to notice that the fuel valves were closed, leading to fuel starvation and the subsequent failure of both engines. Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza also attributed responsibility to the airline's principal officers for the lapse in safety standards and oversight. Following the findings, the Philippine Senate initiated proceedings to revoke the airline's franchise.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Fuel Valves
Mechanical or electromechanical valves that control the flow of fuel from the tanks to the engines; in this accident, they were left in the closed position.
Rolls-Royce Dart Engines
The turboprop engines powered the Fokker F-27; both ceased operation due to fuel starvation shortly after takeoff.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Fokker F-27 Friendship 600 (MSN 10571) manufactured in 1978.
- 02The Captain was found to have submitted fraudulent training certificates claiming he attended recurrent training in Long Beach, California.
- 03The airline was operating as a scheduled carrier despite lacking the specific authorization for such services.
- 04The owner of the airline and the chief mechanic were arrested for immigration violations shortly after the crash.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Franchise Revocation
A special committee of the Philippine Senate began proceedings to revoke the congressional franchise of Laoag International Airlines following the investigation.
Regulatory Oversight Review
The Air Transportation Office (ATO) faced scrutiny regarding the verification of pilot training records after it was discovered the Captain used counterfeit documents.