Philippine Airlines Flight 137
| Industry | Airline |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Manila , Philippines |
| Products | Air transportation services |
Philippine Airlines Flight 137 was a commercial flight operating between Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila and Bacolod City Domestic Airport located in Bacolod. Upon touchdown, the aircraft exceeded the runway limits, resulting in three fatalities on the ground; fortunately, all 124 passengers and six crew members onboard survived.[1]
Aircraft
The plane involved was an Airbus A320-214, bearing the registration RP-C3222. It was built in 1997 and had accumulated 1,224 flight hours by the time of the incident.[1]
Accident
Flight 137 took off from Manila at 6:40 p.m. and arrived at Bacolod at 7:37 p.m., receiving clearance to land on Runway 04.[1]
During the landing procedure, the left engine’s throttle remained in a power-increasing setting while the right engine was engaged in reverse thrust. This imbalance in thrust prevented the deployment of spoilers and caused the aircraft to drift toward the right side. High-speed attempts to correct the direction using rudder inputs and nose wheel steering were unsuccessful, leading to an overrun beyond the runway boundary and breaching the airport’s perimeter fence. A fire broke out but was quickly extinguished by airport and local firefighting teams. All individuals onboard survived; however, three fatalities occurred among people on the ground.[1]
Investigation
The investigation conducted by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) determined that an incorrect mode selection on the flight computer by the pilot inhibited power reduction to idle and disabled both thrust reversers and spoilers. Despite shutting down the affected engine and applying brakes, the aircraft was unable to halt before reaching the end of the runway.
See also
- TAM Airlines Flight 3054 – Another Airbus A320 accident nine years later with 199 casualties under comparable circumstances.
- Korean Air Flight 631 – A runway excursion event in the Philippines occurring 24 years afterward.
- Runway excursion
External links
- Final accident report (Alternate) (Archive)
- Crash site video from Associated Press Archive
- Articles with short description
- Aviation accidents and incidents in the Philippines
- Aviation accidents and incidents in 1998
- Airliner accidents and incidents caused by pilot error
- Philippine Airlines accidents and incidents
- Accidents and incidents involving the Airbus A320
- History of Negros Occidental
- 1998 disasters in the Philippines
- March 1998 in Asia
- Airliner accidents and incidents involving runway overruns
- Pages with reference errors