Rescue workers and passersby gather around the wreckage of a small plane that crashed in a vacant garage in Las Piñas City on Saturday. At least four persons were reported killed while three others remain missing. (Photo by ROUELLE UMALI)

At least four persons died when a World War II vintage cargo plane crashed into a vacant garage in Las Piñas City on Saturday after encountering engine trouble shortly after takeoff.

Three other passengers remain missing.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Assistant General Manager Tirso Serrano said the plane, a DC-3 light aircraft registered to Victoria Air and with tail number RPC 550, was on a test flight to Palawan from Manila when it crashed into the L-shaped garage at Villa Fidela, Barangay Aldana, Las Piñas at 12:20 p.m. Saturday.

Among the seven on board the plane were the two pilots, Captains Benjamin “Boy” Rivera and Jaguar Juane.

The aircraft took off from Runway 24 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 11:56 a.m. on its way to Palawan.

Airport officials disclosed that the aircraft pilot, whose name was withheld, radioed the Manila Control Tower just a few minutes after taking off and requested for an emergency landing after the aircraft reportedly experienced engine problems.

Flight controllers at the MCT gave the pilot emergency status clearance and allowed them to turn back towards the airport and land at Runway 06.

Airport officials said that while flying over the vicinity of Cavite, the pilot managed to steer the crippled airplane into a 180 degree turn and headed back towards the main runway.

“Gumegewang yung eroplano nung makita kong pabagsak patungo sa amin,” Lita Velasco, a caretaker of the garage, said.

Velasco was tending her sari-sari store located at the corner of the 5,000-square meter lot when she saw the aircraft gliding down towards them. In one corner of the lot was a two-storey house attached to a covered garage big enough to house 50 cars.

“Nung makita kong pabagsak na yung eroplano ay agad akong tumakbo papunta sa bahay para kunin yung mga anak ko. Hawak hawak ko na ang mga anak ko nang sumalpok yung eroplano sa garahe at nasundan ng malakas na pagsabog," Velasco said.

The airplane slammed into the middle of the garage which was just 20 meters away from the house where Velasco's children were. Upon impact, the aircraft split in half. This was followed by a loud explosion.

Flames engulfed the aircraft as aviation fuel spilled out from the plane's full fuel tanks.

“Mabuti na lang at hindi kami tinamaan ng pagsabog kasi tuluy-tuloy na yung iba pang pumuputok sa loob ng eroplano,” Velasco added.

At least 14 shanties adjacent to the crash site were gutted down. No injuries were reported.

Just minutes after the crash, firefighters from Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Pasay, Parañaque, and Makati City arrived at the scene to help put out the fire. However, the firefighters had a hard time doing so as several barrels of fuel on board had caught fire due to the crash. The aircraft was also reported to have been filled to the brim with fuel as it was bound for Palawan.

The fire was finally put out with the help of the Manila International Airport Authority's Fire and Rescue team using chemical foam.

Investigators from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines were dispatched to the scene to determine the cause of the crash.

Eduardo Kapunan, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, said he is in possession of a copy of the ill-fated plane's flight passenger manifest but opted not to reveal the names pending a thorough verification of the identities of the fatalities. He also added that he prefers that the owner of the plane announce their passenger's list. (With reports from Ellson A. Quismorio and Ronniel de Guzman)