Caap: Pilot error main cause of Robredo plane crash

MANILA (3rd Update, 2:15 p.m.) -- The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) said Tuesday that the crash off Masbate that killed Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and two others was caused not just by engine trouble, but also pilot error.

"Upon entering the Masbate airspace, the pilot (Captain Jessup Bahinting) undertook improper approach procedure," said the Caap 14-page report presented before President Benigno Aquino III and the media by Captain Amado Soliman, head of the Caap Aircarft Accident Investigation Board.

The report added that Bahinting, 60, of the Aviatours Fly'n Inc., continued to fly away from Cebu instead of turning back when the right engine became problematic.

"He extended landing hear and flaps without assurance of reaching the runway," said Soliman.

Another finding explained by Caap is that Captain Bahinting, who started his flying career in 1979 and was the owner, president and chief executive officer of Aviatours, “had no previous experience on the flight route to Masbate.”

It said Bahinting, who owned the Piper Seneca plane that crashed off Masbate last August 18, lacked proper training to handle the aircraft, and no pre-flight briefings for the passengers were conducted.

“The weather was good and not a factor on the accident,” added the report.

Soliman also said that personnel of Aviatours had inadequate training and skills in maintaining their aircraft.

The report also raised the possibility of connivance between officials of Aviatours and Caap to expedite the airworthiness documents of the flying school, but Caap Director General William Hotchkiss said they will give the personnel identified to be responsible for the crash due process.

He said they will look into the culpabilities of the Caap and Aviatours personnel, whether administrative or criminal, adding he designated Caap Assistant Director General Fajardo to look into the matter and furnish a report within two weeks.

“I will need recommendation before formally taking action on Caap personnel who allegedly connived with pilot Bahinting,” said Hotchkiss.

He added that aviation authority has formed a group that will investigate the collusion.

In a statement before the presentation of the report, President Aquino ordered the Caap and Department of Transportation and Communications to implement reforms in aviation industry and audit licenses of flight schools.

Local Goverment Secretary Manuel Roxas, who is a close friend of Robredo, said he was saddened that the human error caused the death of the former Naga City mayor.

He said, though, that he is glad his successor in the Transportation department Emilio Abaya continues to implement reforms in the aviation industry to prevent same incident in the future.

The crash happened last August 18 around 100 meters away from the shoreline of Ibiningay village, Masbate. The plane was carrying Robredo, his aide Jun Abrazado, Captain Bahinting, and student pilot Kshitz Chand when the accident happened around 4:20 p.m.

Abrazado survived the crash. (LRM/Jill Beltran/Sunnex)