PAF eyes 3 possible causes of OV-1O crash in Tarlac

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is looking into three possible causes for the crash of the OV-10 Bronco aircraft last Wednesday in Tarlac, which claimed the lives of two of its pilots.

PAF spokesman Lt. Col. Gerardo Zamudio Jr. said their investigators are looking into human, material, and environmental factors as the possible reasons for the incident.

“There are three factors that are being considered – human, material, and environmental,” he told The STAR in a telephone interview yesterday.

Zamudio explained that the human factor pertains to pilot errors while material factor refers to problems in the plane’s structure or its other technical aspects.

On the other hand, the environmental factor includes conditions in the surroundings that may affect the flight such as the weather.

“But the weather was good when the crash happened,” Zamudio said.

The PAF spokesman did not give a definite timetable as to when the investigation will be completed but said that this will be done “as soon as possible.”

“The results of the investigation will depend on the things recovered in the crash site,” Zamudio said.

The casualties of the incident were identified as Capt. Jose Enriquez Leonardo Corpuz and his co-pilot First Lieutenant Apollo Carandang, who were undergoing flight training. The PAF said the crash happened at 2:40 in the afternoon at the Crow Valley in Capas, Tarlac. 

The four remaining serviceable OV-10 planes will be grounded pending an investigation by the PAF.

Zamudio said investigators led by Lt. Col. Fredie Conejar have conducted an ocular inspection of the crash site and have collected the aircraft’s debris.

“Latest on-the-ground information reveal that the investigating team has already in its custody the aircraft’s two turboprop engines which were recovered from the crash site,” he said.

Zamudio said the ill-fated OV-10 Bronco Nr 399 was manufactured on June 16, 1971. It was donated by the Royal Thai Air Force to the PAF on May 2, 2004.