Pilot shows off to girlfriend; plane crash-lands on roof

RIZAL, Nueva Ecija -- A house here became an instant attraction when a small plane was stuck on its roof after a crash Wednesday morning after the pilot reportedly tried to show off his aerial sklls to his girlfriend who lives in the area.

As of press time, Senior Supt. Crizaldo Nievas, director of the Nueva Ecija police, said the light plane was still stuck on the roof of the house owned by Glenn Paraiso in Barangay Poblacion Norte.

He said the plane was seen having trouble past 7 a.m. Wednesday and a few minutes later, it crashed and landed on  Paraiso’s house which is made of wood and nipa.

“The pilot and the co-pilot were injured as a result of the incident,” said Nievas.

He identified the pilot as Paul Pafultad, 30, and the co-pilot as 21-year-old Myanmar national Wen Hiet.

“The pilot suffered injuries in the head, while the co-pilot is in good condition,” said Nievas.

The light plane is two-seater with tail number RP-C1025.

“It is now an attraction in our barangay, a lot of people went there to see it,” Barangay Captain Roberto Lapuz said.

Lapuz said the plane crash damaged the house of Paraiso, but the structure was strong enough to keep the plane in place.

“The occupants of the house are very lucky, the owner only suffered minor injuries,” said Lapuz.

Paraiso said he was cooking breakfast at the kitchen of their house when he heard a loud thud and a few seconds later, a part of the house fell on him.

He suffered bruises in the arm when he rushed out of the house for safety.

His wife and three children were not around when the incident happened.

“I was very lucky I’m still alive. I heard that the fuel of a plane is highly combustible and explodes so I’m lucky that it did not happen,” he said.

Both Paraiso and the barangay captain said the pilot could have tried an aerial stunt, saying they were used to Pafultad showing off whenever he flies the plane.

The reason, they said: “His (Pafultad’s) girlfriend lives in the area.

He said he was angry over the incident and that Pafultad immediately apologized to him and assured him that he would take care of all the expenses to repair the house damage.