REGIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Training Flight Turns Into Emergency As Cessna 172 Crashes In Zambales
Photo credit: PNP Aviation Security Group
What began as a routine training flight over Iba, Zambales quickly turned into a morning of alarm and emergency response when a Cessna 172 aircraft with tail number RP-C2211 went down in an agricultural area of Brgy. Lipay-Dingin-Panibutan on Friday, July 11, 2025.
According to initial reports, the single-engine aircraft—operated by a local aviation training school—took off from Iba Airport at around 8:57 AM for what was intended to be a standard local training sortie. Onboard were one flight instructor and three student-pilots, all Filipino nationals.
The flight, however, ended abruptly in Purok 4, Sitio Corocan, where the plane crashed into a field, prompting immediate response from local emergency services. Personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Iba rushed to the scene and quickly transported all four occupants to President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital for medical evaluation and treatment.
Authorities moved swiftly to secure the crash site and assist the injured. Responding teams included the Iba Airport Police Station, Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighters (ARFF-CAAP), and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS).
The Cessna 172 sustained significant damage in the crash, although the full extent and estimated cost of the damage have yet to be determined. Fortunately, there were no reports of casualties on the ground, and no fire broke out as a result of the crash.
An investigation by the CAAP is now underway to establish the circumstances and possible mechanical or operational issues that led to the accident.
While training flights are a routine part of pilot education, incidents like this serve as a sobering reminder of the risks inherent in aviation and the importance of strict safety protocols and thorough investigations. Authorities have assured the public that findings from the investigation will help prevent similar occurrences in the future.
For now, the focus remains on the recovery of the injured and the careful examination of what went wrong during what should have been a standard morning flight.
According to initial reports, the single-engine aircraft—operated by a local aviation training school—took off from Iba Airport at around 8:57 AM for what was intended to be a standard local training sortie. Onboard were one flight instructor and three student-pilots, all Filipino nationals.
The flight, however, ended abruptly in Purok 4, Sitio Corocan, where the plane crashed into a field, prompting immediate response from local emergency services. Personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Iba rushed to the scene and quickly transported all four occupants to President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital for medical evaluation and treatment.
Authorities moved swiftly to secure the crash site and assist the injured. Responding teams included the Iba Airport Police Station, Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighters (ARFF-CAAP), and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS).
The Cessna 172 sustained significant damage in the crash, although the full extent and estimated cost of the damage have yet to be determined. Fortunately, there were no reports of casualties on the ground, and no fire broke out as a result of the crash.
An investigation by the CAAP is now underway to establish the circumstances and possible mechanical or operational issues that led to the accident.
While training flights are a routine part of pilot education, incidents like this serve as a sobering reminder of the risks inherent in aviation and the importance of strict safety protocols and thorough investigations. Authorities have assured the public that findings from the investigation will help prevent similar occurrences in the future.
For now, the focus remains on the recovery of the injured and the careful examination of what went wrong during what should have been a standard morning flight.
Jul 11, 2025
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