2010 Cessna 172K Crash at Cerro Blanco, Guayaquil

Flight Details and Departure On August 25, 2010, a Cessna 172K departed from José Joaquín de Olmedo Airport in Guayaquil at 12:29 UTC, bound for Manta. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and two passengers. The pilot had filed an instrument flight plan and a weight and balance manifest, listing one of the passengers as a student pilot nearing private pilot certification. The pilot was cleared for a departure via the W6 airway to the Manta VOR at flight level 040, with instructions to exit toward Chongón and then proceed to Rogen. The transponder was set to 1425. The aircraft received takeoff clearance from the control tower at 12:27:58 UTC and was informed of its departure time at 12:30:00 UTC. The pilot then contacted approach control, confirming a right turn and transponder code 1425. Approach control instructed the pilot to maintain the Chongón departure and climb to flight level 060. When the pilot requested direct routing to Rogen, the controller denied the request, instructing the pilot to maintain the heading toward Chongón and proceed direct to Rogen upon reaching 3,000 feet. The pilot acknowledged the instruction and confirmed climbing to flight level 060. This was the last recorded communication between the aircraft and air traffic control.