Light plane spraying pesticide over Davao banana plantation crashes

DAVAO CITY – A light plane crashed in a village in Panabo City, Davao del Norte on Wednesday injuring its pilot, police on Thursday said.

Capt. Andrew Bernal suffered minor injuries following the accident at a farm in Barangay (Village) Upper Licanan, Panabo City, Senior Insp. Milgrace Driz, the Southern Mindanao police spokesperson said.

Driz said the accident happened as the agricultural aircraft (RP-R5835), owned by Aerowurkz Aviation and piloted by the 54-year-old Bernal, was conducting spray runs at a banana plantation in the vicinity of Purok (Community) 1, Upper Licanan around 9 a.m. when it crashed.

Driz said the plane’s engine malfunctioned, prompting Bernal to steer the aircraft back to its hanger but the plane went down to a farm lot.

Accidents involving spray planes are common in Davao del Norte where these light but aging aircrafts are used to apply pesticides and other chemicals in the province’s over 30, 000 hectares of banana plantations.