Strong winds helped bring down OV-10, says general

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Strong winds buffeted a Philippine Air Force plane that could have contributed to its crash in a military base here on Wednesday, authorities said.

Maj. Gen. Jose Tony Villarete, head of the 3rd Air Division, said the OV-10 combat plane that crashed was undergoing test flights when it developed engine trouble 40 minutes into the air.

Maj. David Trajano and Lt. Adonis Buscas were conducting the test flight, a requirement for planes that have had at least 200 hours of flying time.

The OV-10 plane took off around 9:02 a.m. and developed engine trouble some 40 minutes later.

Villarete said the two pilots—Trajano and Buscas—were flying at 9,000 feet and were switching the engine on and off when “they discovered that the right engine was not working.”

At the military base, fire trucks, ambulances and the medical personnel were in place.

“Everyone was watching and waiting for a successful landing,” Villarete said.

But as the aircraft was descending to land, the airport tower advised pilots to take extra precaution because of strong winds, he added.

“While they were 50 feet above the ground, the aircraft was hit by wind gustiness of 20 knots. The plane turned upside down,” said Villarete. The two pilots were able to eject, he said.

Trajano suffered a leg injury. Villarete said Buscas just “shook off dust from his suit” and was brought to Edwin Andrews Air Base hospital.

OV-10s were used in bombing runs in Al-Barka, Basilan, on Oct. 18 and in sorties in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay and Indanan, Sulu, against Moro guerrillas last month.

Villarete said the OV-10 that crashed here didn’t carry bombs as planes that are for test flights are prohibited from carrying weapons. Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao