2 pilots perish in Bulacan crash

PLARIDEL, Bulacan — A Cessna trainer plane crash landed at the end of the runway of the Plaridel airport late Tuesday afternoon, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and a student co-pilot.

Supt. Dale Soliba, Plaridel police chief, identified the fatalities as Capt. Arthur Rebollido, 40, training instructor and a resident of Quezon City and James Phillip Oquialda, 24, a student — pilot and a resident of Parañaque City.

Police said that the trainer plane was a total wreck after the crash.

Initial investigation disclosed that the Cessna two-seater aircraft with body number RP-C8691 owned by Fliteline Aviation took off at Plaridel Airport in Brgy. Lumangbayan here for a training flight (touch and go) at around 4:00 in the afternoon.

According to Senior Police Officer 1 Emison Palaganas, a member of the Aviation Security Group assigned at the Plaridel Airport, the plane made a touch and go on the runway but failed to gain substantial lift and crashed behind the Plaridel cockpit arena.

Palaganas said Rebollido was brought to Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos City, Bulacan but was declared dead on arrival by attending emergency department physicians.

Oquialda was brought to Peralta Hospital in Poblacion, Plaridel, Bulacan and later transferred to Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in Brgy. Longos, Pulilan, Bulacan for treatment but later expired.

Police and investigators from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines are still trying to establish the exact cause of the fatal mishap.