Introduction
On August 1, 2023, at approximately 1247H local time, a Textron Aviation Inc. Cessna 152 aircraft, registration RP-C8598, operated by Echo Air International Aviation Academy Inc., collided with terrain in Sitio Matad, Barangay Salvacion, Luna, Apayao, Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. The aircraft was conducting a flight training operation and was destroyed upon impact.
History of Flight
The flight was a round-robin cross-country training mission filed under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) from Tuguegarao Principal Airport (RPUT) to Laoag International Airport (RPLI) and then to Cauayan Principal Airport (RPUY), with the return leg to RPUT. The aircraft had taken off from Laoag bound for Cauayan. At about 1330H, the aircraft was declared missing after another company flight reported the situation to the Tuguegarao tower. Search and rescue operations were initiated by Echo Air International, later joined by military and civilian teams. On August 3 at 1130H, the crash site was located at an elevation of approximately 660 feet ASL in mountainous terrain with steep ridges and dense vegetation. The site showed evidence of a post-crash fire confined to the engine area.
Injuries and Damage
Both occupants—a flight instructor and a student pilot—sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was completely destroyed. No other damages were reported.
Personnel Information
The flight instructor was a 24-year-old Filipino male holding a Commercial Pilot License and Flight Instructor rating, with a total flying time of 384 hours. The student pilot was also aboard. No further personnel details are available.
Probable Cause
According to the final report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board, the probable cause of the accident was the flight instructor's decision to continue the VFR flight in deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in a loss of control in flight, compounded by the decision to deviate from the published training route.