The flight took off from Malabang at 15:40 with the pilot-in-command in the right-hand seat and the copilot in the left-hand seat. The pilot flew VFR for about 10 minutes towards Lake Lanao (elevation 2300 feet). Weather turned from bad to worse, but the pilot continued VFR, switching to IFR a little later. Shortly after requesting the Iligan weather, the DC-3 struck a clump of trees on a ridge at 2700 feet amsl (823 m). The plane lost control, crashed and burned. PROBABLE CAUSE: “Pilot factor: The pilot continued to fly VFR into unfavourable weather. The weather enroute and at the destination was below VFR minima. The pilot flew at low altitude over mountainous terrain in instrument meteorological conditions. Weather factor: Low ceiling, limited visibility and rain contributed to the accident. Turbulence characterized by downdrafts or updrafts were prevalent over the mountainous area at low altitude.”