Aviation Safety

Missing Cessna 152 plane found in Apayao, two bodies recovered

398
Crash site of RP-C8598. (Photo from CAAP)

The exhaustive two-day search for the missing Cessna 152 training aircraft RP-C8598, operated by Echo Air International Aviation Academy, Inc., has come to a heart-wrenching end. The aircraft’s crash site was located yesterday, August 3, 2023, at Sitio Matad, Barangay Salvacion, Luna, Apayao.

The Cessna 152 aircraft, under the command of a seasoned Filipino flight instructor and carrying a student pilot from India, departed from Laoag International Airport at 12:16 PM on August 1, 2023. The aircraft’s planned route included stops at Cauayan Airport and Tuguegarao Airport, with an anticipated touchdown at Tuguegarao Airport at approximately 3:16 PM. However, the aircraft’s final position report was transmitted around 1:00 PM on the same day, placing it approximately 32 nautical miles northwest of Alcala, Cagayan.

A multi-agency search and rescue (SAR) operation, orchestrated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), various local government units (LGUs), and dedicated civilian volunteers, culminated in the discovery of the crash site. Regrettably, the SAR team uncovered two bodies at the scene, believed to be the occupants of the ill-fated Cessna 152 aircraft.

Prompt action was taken by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in response to the incident, saying: “CAAP has suspended the operations of the aircraft’s operator, Echo Air International Aviation Academy, Inc., while the investigation is ongoing.”

This proactive measure aims to ensure safety while facilitating an in-depth investigation into the circumstances that led to the crash.

Leading the investigation is the CAAP Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board (AAIIB). Investigators from the AAIIB are already at the crash site, meticulously sifting through debris and collating crucial information in an effort to piece together the puzzle of this unfortunate event.

Written by
Dirk Andrei Salcedo

Dirk is the founder and editor-in-chief of Aviation Updates Philippines (AUP), a platform dedicated to providing the latest news and insights on the aviation industry in the Philippines. With a strong passion for aviation and a background in computer engineering, he manages all aspects of AUP, from website development to content curation.

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Newsletter

Featured Stories

Categories

Related Articles

Aviation Safety

CAAP grounds Pilipinas Space Aviation Academy after fatal Cessna crash

A Cessna 152 aircraft operated by Pilipinas Space Aviation Academy Inc. crashed...

Aviation Safety

Cebu runway overrun: What the final report on Korean Air flight 631 reveals

CAAP investigation concludes forward pitch control and 15cm runway edge impact led...

Aviation Safety

Cebu Pacific flight returns to Mactan after landing gear issue

A Cebu Pacific flight bound for Manila safely returned to its origin...

Aviation Safety

PAF confirms FA-50 fighter jet crash in Bukidnon; both pilots lost

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has officially confirmed that its FA-50PH fighter...