Air Philippines Boeing 737-2H4 plane crash

The Air Philippines Boeing 737-200 was operating a passenger flight to Davao, Philippines. The crew had been cleared for an approach to runway 23. After reporting about 7 NM from the runway, the aircraft continued descending in an area where rising terrain lies close to the approach path.

The Boeing struck terrain at an elevation of about 500 feet above sea level, at a point where it should have been substantially higher on the approach profile. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and post-crash fire. All 131 occupants were killed. Available information also indicates a low cloud ceiling in the area at the time of the accident.

Investigation findings

An independent investigation committee was created by the Philippine authorities a few days after the accident. However, among the public official sources we were able to consult, we did not locate a final report from which a definitive official cause could be quoted. The low flight path and the weather conditions are factual elements of the sequence, but they should not by themselves be presented as the final conclusion of the investigation.