Pilot, student-pilot survive plane crash in Nueva Ecija

By Ariel Avandano

TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija – A pilot and a student-pilot were hurt when a two-seat Cessna plane they were flying crash-landed in a rice field in Barangay Homestead 2, this town, Monday morning.

          Police Lt. Colonel Alexie Desamito, Talavera police chief, said flight instructor Boni Sorgon, 31, of Barangay Libsong, Lingayen, Pangasinan; and Aria Thalia Zeth Limpin, the student-pilot, of Bayan Luma 5 in Cavite survived with minor injuries. Responding policemen and rescuers took the victims to Talavera General Hospital.

         Desamito said the ill-fated plane, owned by Flyfast Aviation School in Lingayen, was heading back to Lingayen, Pangasinan, after flying all the way to Cabanatuan City when the plane developed engine trouble and crash-landed at 7:30 a.m. Monday.

Rommel Torejas, 26, a farmer who personally witnessed the crash, said he was visiting his ricefield when he heard what seems to be a malfunctioning engine coming from the light plane. He soon noticed the plane circling around the area before crash-landing and finally lying upside down after impact.

Personnel from the Philippine Army immediately secured the crash site preventing farmers from getting closer to the ill-fated aircraft.