Asian Spirit Flight 321
Encyclopedia
Asian Spirit Flight 321 (6k321) was a previous domestic Asian Spirit(now Zest Airways) flight from Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport
to Masbate Airport
in Masbate City
in Bicol region. On the 2nd of January 2008, just a day after the New Year's Day, an NAMC YS-11
departing from Manila, piloted by Captain Alexandro Tiglao with First Officer Dominick Mendoza as co-pilot, overshot the runway at Masbate Airport at 7:30 a.m., due to heavy tailwinds with gustiness reaching 14 knots while landing on runway 21. Although none of the 47 passengers were seriously injured, the accident destroyed the aircraft’s nozzle, the plane’s right propeller
and its right and nose wheel, and caused the plane’s fuel tank to leak.
The plane left Manila at 5:45PST
and was scheduled to arrive at 6:30PST
in Masbate Airport
. At 07:20, when Asian Spirit flight 321 was 10 miles out, the Masbate controller reported winds 050 at 11 kts, gusting to 14 kts. At 07:35 the pilot flew a right base and turned onto finals for runway 21. The crew was advised that wind was now 040 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots and caution advised for landing.
The YS-11 overshot the runway and impacted a concrete airport perimeter fence. The right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane sustained damage to the right hand engine.
The 47 passengers, including seven children, and four flight crew members, were evacuated from the plane shaken but unharmed, said airport manager Josefina Nunez.
This accident forced Asian Spirit to suspend flights to Masbate until the accident is completely investigated, and this accident was also a reason for Asian Spirit to be renewed, rebranding the airline company as Zest Airways.
.
Airport manager Josefina Nuñez clarified that the propeller did not fall off the 50-seater plane while in mid-air but on the ground, when a replacement engine was being installed to replace one that would not run Tuesday morning.
Nuñez said engine trouble was detected before 47 passengers bound for Manila boarded the aircraft and airport officials immediately canceled the 7:35 a.m. flight and a replacement engine requested from Metro Manila. The spare engine arrived late in the afternoon and, while it was being installed by technicians, one of the four propellers fell on the parking apron where the plane was being repaired.
"The propeller was too heavy for the boom truck that carried it and it fell off the hook. It was damaged and could no longer be used," Nuñez said in a phone interview. It was a good thing that the engine trouble was found out before the plane left. But the media has to be careful in giving reports as it could cause fear and panic," Nuñez said.
The same plane was able to resume its flight on 7:35 a.m. Wednesday with 44 passengers, among them some of those stranded Tuesday.
Ninoy Aquino International Airport
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA , also known as Manila International Airport , is the airport serving the general area of Manila and its surrounding metropolitan area...
to Masbate Airport
Masbate Airport
Moises R. Espinosa Airport , also known as Masbate Airport , is the airport serving the general area of Masbate City, located in the province of Masbate in the Philippines...
in Masbate City
Masbate City
The City of Masbate is a 4th class city in the province of Masbate, Philippines. It is the capital city of Masbate province...
in Bicol region. On the 2nd of January 2008, just a day after the New Year's Day, an NAMC YS-11
NAMC YS-11
The NAMC YS-11 is a turboprop airliner built by a Japanese consortium, the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The program was initiated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1954, the aircraft was rolled out in 1962, and production ceased in 1974.-Development and design:In...
departing from Manila, piloted by Captain Alexandro Tiglao with First Officer Dominick Mendoza as co-pilot, overshot the runway at Masbate Airport at 7:30 a.m., due to heavy tailwinds with gustiness reaching 14 knots while landing on runway 21. Although none of the 47 passengers were seriously injured, the accident destroyed the aircraft’s nozzle, the plane’s right propeller
Propeller (aircraft)
Aircraft propellers or airscrews convert rotary motion from piston engines or turboprops to provide propulsive force. They may be fixed or variable pitch. Early aircraft propellers were carved by hand from solid or laminated wood with later propellers being constructed from metal...
and its right and nose wheel, and caused the plane’s fuel tank to leak.
The plane left Manila at 5:45PST
PST
-Time zones:* Pacific Standard Time, UTC−8:00* Pakistan Standard Time, UTC+5:00* Philippine Standard Time, UTC+8:00-Science and technology:* Lead scandium tantalate, a ceramic material* Post-stall technology, aircraft control system-Places:...
and was scheduled to arrive at 6:30PST
PST
-Time zones:* Pacific Standard Time, UTC−8:00* Pakistan Standard Time, UTC+5:00* Philippine Standard Time, UTC+8:00-Science and technology:* Lead scandium tantalate, a ceramic material* Post-stall technology, aircraft control system-Places:...
in Masbate Airport
Masbate Airport
Moises R. Espinosa Airport , also known as Masbate Airport , is the airport serving the general area of Masbate City, located in the province of Masbate in the Philippines...
. At 07:20, when Asian Spirit flight 321 was 10 miles out, the Masbate controller reported winds 050 at 11 kts, gusting to 14 kts. At 07:35 the pilot flew a right base and turned onto finals for runway 21. The crew was advised that wind was now 040 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots and caution advised for landing.
The YS-11 overshot the runway and impacted a concrete airport perimeter fence. The right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane sustained damage to the right hand engine.
The 47 passengers, including seven children, and four flight crew members, were evacuated from the plane shaken but unharmed, said airport manager Josefina Nunez.
This accident forced Asian Spirit to suspend flights to Masbate until the accident is completely investigated, and this accident was also a reason for Asian Spirit to be renewed, rebranding the airline company as Zest Airways.
False Accident of Asian Spirit 321
After the Overshooting of Asian Spirit flight 321 last January 2, 2008, another accident was falsely reported across the province reporting that another Asian Spirit flight 321's propeller fell to the ground from mid-air. This time it is a De Havilland Canada Dash 7De Havilland Canada Dash 7
The de Havilland Canada DHC-7, popularly known as the Dash 7, is a turboprop-powered regional airliner with STOL capabilities. It first flew in 1975 and remained in production until 1988 when the parent company, de Havilland Canada, was purchased by Boeing and was later sold to Bombardier...
.
Airport manager Josefina Nuñez clarified that the propeller did not fall off the 50-seater plane while in mid-air but on the ground, when a replacement engine was being installed to replace one that would not run Tuesday morning.
Nuñez said engine trouble was detected before 47 passengers bound for Manila boarded the aircraft and airport officials immediately canceled the 7:35 a.m. flight and a replacement engine requested from Metro Manila. The spare engine arrived late in the afternoon and, while it was being installed by technicians, one of the four propellers fell on the parking apron where the plane was being repaired.
"The propeller was too heavy for the boom truck that carried it and it fell off the hook. It was damaged and could no longer be used," Nuñez said in a phone interview. It was a good thing that the engine trouble was found out before the plane left. But the media has to be careful in giving reports as it could cause fear and panic," Nuñez said.
The same plane was able to resume its flight on 7:35 a.m. Wednesday with 44 passengers, among them some of those stranded Tuesday.