2012 Masbate Piper Seneca crash

Plane crash in near Masbate, Philippines August 2012 Accident 2012 08 18 Crashed on approach due to engine failure and pilot error Off the coast of Masbate Island near Moises R. Espinosa Airport, Masbate City, Philippines 12 23 18 N 123 37 36 E type:event_source:enwiki inline,title Piper PA-34-200 Seneca I Aviatour Air X4431 RP-C4431 Mactan–Cebu International Airport, Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines Naga Airport, Naga, Camarines Sur, Philippines 4 2 2 3 1 1 On August 18, 2012, a Piper PA-34 Seneca light aircraft with four people on board, including Philippine Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, crashed in the sea near the island province of Masbate, Philippines, while flying from Lapu-Lapu City to Naga, Camarines Sur. Robredo and two other occupants were killed in the accident.ABS-CBN News Robredo's plane crashes off Masbate ABS-CBN News http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/18/12/robredos-plane-crashes-masbate August 18, 2012 August 18, 2012 May 15, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130515183849/http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/18/12/robredos-plane-crashes-masbate dead Background Interior and Local Government Secretary Robredo and his aide, Police Chief Inspector June Paolo Abrazado, were in Cebu to attend the National Summit of the Community Investigative Support and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. Robredo originally booked an airline flight from Mactan–Cebu International Airport to Manila, but instead chartered an aircraft to take him to Naga so he could be with his family.https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/253380/robredo-was-coming-home-to-give-daughter-a-treat Robredo was coming home to give daughter a treat Escandor Juan Jr. newsinfo.inquirer.net August 20, 2012 en 2019-03-27 Accident Philippines 1 right 200 Key locations of the flight Philippines 10.313333 123.982778 Mactan–Cebu Airport left Airplane_silhouette.svg Philippines 13.584722 123.27 Naga Airport left Airplane_silhouette.svg Philippines 12.388333 123.626667 Masbate Airport left Airplane_silhouette.svg The aircraft was a Piper PA-34-200 Seneca I, registered RP-C4431.Robredo's ill-fated plane: Chronology of events http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/253028/robredos-ill-fated-plane-chronology-of-events August 19, 2012 Inquirer News August 19, 2012 ManilaRescuers search for Robredo, 2 pilot http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=839708&publicationSubCategoryId=200 https://archive.today/20130104152438/http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=839708&publicationSubCategoryId=200 dead January 4, 2013 August 19, 2012 Phil Star August 19, 2012 AP ManilaOfficials still hanging on hope for DILG chief http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/08/20/officials-still-hanging-hope-dilg-chief-238360 August 19, 2012 Sun Star August 20, 2012 Manila August 21, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120821114710/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/08/20/officials-still-hanging-hope-dilg-chief-238360 dead In addition to Robredo and Abrazado there were two crew on board; the pilot who was also the CEO of Aviatour Air (the company that operated the aircraft); and the co-pilot, a Nepalese national. En route to Naga the crew of the Seneca requested an emergency landing at Masbate Airport, citing engine problems.Philippine top minister feared dead in crash http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/08/201281945210514993.html August 20, 2012 Al Jazeera August 19, 2012 At around 15:30, Abrazado sent a text message, informing the recipient that they were returning to Cebu due to a problem with one of the propellers [sic]. He also asked to be re-booked for the earliest possible flight out of Mactan. However, at 16:02, Abrazado sent more messages, stating that the airplane was making an emergency landing at Masbate Airport. The airplane then crashed into the sea off the shores of Masbate IslandInterAksyon Plane carrying Robredo crashes off Masbate http://www.interaksyon.com/article/40824/plane-carrying-robredo-crashes-off-masbate August 18, 2012 August 18, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120820201605/http://www.interaksyon.com/article/40824/plane-carrying-robredo-crashes-off-masbate August 20, 2012 dead mdy-all some 300 m us away from the island's airport. Of the four people aboard the aircraft, the sole survivor, Robredo's aide, said that the airplane broke apart as it hit the water. Search and recovery More than 200 rescuers together with Philippine military divers and helicopters started searching for the passengers after the crash.Gomez Jim Search for Philippine minister after crash https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/search-for-philippine-minister-after-crash/news-story/59c03cfbe959b84da39c9bc686957101 August 19, 2012 The Australian August 19, 2012 subscription AAP Assistance was also provided by Korean technical divers and a lone German diver.http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/20/12/korean-divers-join-search-robredo Korean divers join search for Robredo ABS-CBN News August 20, 2012 August 23, 2012 August 22, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120822014032/http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/20/12/korean-divers-join-search-robredo dead http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/270594/news/nation/search-for-missing-robredo-pilots-suspended Search for missing Robredo pilots suspended GMA News Online August 23, 2012 Additionally, the United States Navy sent the USNS Safeguard, a rescue and salvage ship that was undergoing repairs in a dry dock at Subic Bay, to help.http://globalnation.inquirer.net/47678/us-navy-rescue-salvage-ship-to-help-in-robredo-search US Navy rescue, salvage ship to help in Robredo search Inquirer Global Nation August 23, 2012 Abrazado was then found about 500 m us off the coast, along with the wreckage. The first part of the airplane found was the tip of the right wing. A flight manifest containing the name of Jesse Robredo was also found near the site of accident the next day.Baquero Elias O. Divers lift out plane's debris http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2012/08/20/divers-lift-out-plane-s-debris-238359 https://archive.today/20130416071223/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2012/08/20/divers-lift-out-plane-s-debris-238359 dead April 16, 2013 August 19, 2012 Sun Star August 20, 2012 On August 20, debris from the aircraft was recovered.LAPEÑA CARMELA G. Robredo plane operator had previous crash in 2012 http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/270434/news/nation/robredo-plane-operator-had-previous-crash-in-2012?ref=related_stories August 20, 2012 GMA News August 20, 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130514070007/http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/270434/news/nation/robredo-plane-operator-had-previous-crash-in-2012?ref=related_stories May 14, 2013 mdy President Benigno Aquino III went to Masbate the day after the crash to personally receive updates on the situation. He was accompanied by Transport Secretary Mar Roxas, who said that special sonar equipment was also sent to aid in the search and that "we just want to do everything we can to save him [Robredo]." Aquino also said that Abrazado was conscious and had only a few injuries. On August 21, Roxas announced that divers had found the inverted fuselage and that Robredo's body was brought to shore by the Philippine Coast Guard. The wreckage was some 800 m mi 1 us from the Masbate shoreline at a depth of about 54 m us.http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/21/12/robredos-body-found Robredo found dead ABS-CBN News August 20, 2012 August 23, 2012 August 25, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150825030220/http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/21/12/robredos-body-found dead On August 22, divers recovered a second body, later identified as that of the pilot, by raising the wreckage to a depth of 21 m us. The copilot's body was retrieved by the crew of a passenger ferry the next day after it was seen floating near the crash site.http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/256494/masbate-plane-crash-probe-begins Nepali's body retrieved; mission accomplished Jonas C. Soltes August 24, 2012 Inquirer Southern Luzon August 24, 2012 Reactions The government called for a prayer vigil at a chapel in Manila. The company that owns the aircraft suspended its operations without waiting for an official order. Following the retrieval of Robredo's remains, President Aquino declared a national day of mourning and announced that a state funeral would be held, while flags were flown at half-mast.https://www.rappler.com/philippines/10931-gov-t-bids-robredo-goodbye/ National Days of Mourning for Robredo August 21, 2012 Rappler August 22, 2012 Paquito Ochoa, Jr. was named to Robredo's portfolio in an interim capacity.http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/270589/news/nation/palace-names-ochoa-as-temporary-dilg-chief Palace names Ochoa as temporary DILG chief GMA News August 22, 2012 Investigation President Aquino revealed details of the accident investigation and its findings during a media briefing on November 13, 2012.http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/306556/pilot-error-poor-maintenance-caused-robredo-plane-crash-official-report-says Robredo plane crash traced to pilot error Philippine Daily Inquirer November 16, 2012http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2012/11/14/866396/pilot-error-safety-lapses-caused-robredo-plane-crash-%E2%80%93-caap Pilot error, safety lapses caused Robredo plane crash – CAAP Philippine Star November 16, 2012 The investigation found that improper maintenance led to the right engine suffering an internal failure, which likely would have caused misfiring and intermittent operation of the fuel pump. The failure was gradual and the aircraft developed engine problems 23 minutes after take off. However, instead of turning back to Cebu, the pilot decided to continue the flight, until the engine failed completely 37 minutes later and the aircraft crashed during the subsequent attempt to land at Masbate. The investigation determined that the pilot didn't use the correct procedure for trying to land a Piper Seneca with one engine inoperative, in that he lowered the undercarriage and flaps too soon; and that during his last flight proficiency test he had not been tested with respect to flying with one engine inoperative. The investigation found that the maintenance of the Seneca had been undertaken by Aviatour Air, but that the company was not authorised or approved to do so. It also found that records relating to a test flight for renewal of the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness in January 2012 had been falsified and that the test flight never took place.http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2012/11/13/caap-pilot-error-main-cause-robredo-plane-crash-253062 Caap (sic): Pilot error main cause of Robredo plane crash Philippine Sun Star November 16, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121118044421/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2012/11/13/caap-pilot-error-main-cause-robredo-plane-crash-253062 November 18, 2012 dead mdy-all An airworthiness inspector of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines was suspended from duty as a result, pending the outcome of a separate investigation.http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/282317/news/nation/caap-inspector-suspended-for-certifying-crashed-robredo-plane CAAP inspector suspended for certifying crashed Robredo plane GMA News November 16, 2012 Representatives of the pilot's family and Aviatour Air disputed the findings.http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2012/11/14/866427/crash-caused-%E2%80%9Cpilot-error-fraud%E2%80%9D Crash caused by "Pilot error, fraud" The Freeman November 16, 2012 See also 1957 Cebu Douglas C-47 crash 2021 Piedade de Caratinga Beechcraft King Air crash References External links RP-C4431 Report (Archive) - Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Aviation Philippines Piper Seneca crash Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in the Philippines Category:Airliner accidents and incidents caused by pilot error Category:Airliner accidents and incidents caused by stalls Category:2012 disasters in the Philippines Category:History of Masbate Category:August 2012 in the Philippines Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving the Piper PA-34 Seneca