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Sunday, November 26, 2006
Acrobatic pilot killed in crash
CEBU CITY -- A British pilot and a Filipino aircraft mechanic died when a single engine, two-seater plane crashed into the waters off the South Road Properties (SRP) past 5 p.m. Saturday.
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Roy Bruce, a British national in his 50s, and Romy Otilla died instantly, said Cebu Coast Guard District Commander Manolito Malig-on.
The Coast Guard found their bodies less than an hour after the crash in the waters off Laray, Inayawan, Cebu City, about 100 meters from Gate 3 of the SRP.
Bruce, a licensed aerobatic pilot, still had his seatbelt on.
Witnesses said Bruce was practicing aerobatic stunts and had been doing loops and spirals several times before his plane crashed.
Alaine Tampusok, supervisor of the Air Transport Office tower operations, said Bruce's Extra 300-L plane left from Mactan airport at 4:48 p.m.
He was scheduled to return at 5:48 p.m. since the plane, like most small aircraft, had no equipment to fly at night.
Tampusok said that shortly after Bruce and Otilla departed for a flight within SRP, they received calls that a plane crashed somewhere in Talisay City.
They tried to contact the pilot but got no response.
Tampusok said they alerted the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation and the Coast Guard about the missing aircraft.
Malig-on sent a team from the Special Operations Group to look for the plane.
Reports said Bruce had been diving his plane close to the water. As he went for another dive, he failed to pull up and crashed into the water instead.
Cebu City Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem, a friend of Bruce, said Bruce's death is "a great loss to the world of aviation in Cebu."
"He will surely be remembered as a highly skilled aerobatic pilot who shared his dream of flying to all his friends and those who watch in awe at the maneuvers you thought would not be possible in an airplane, and those who flew with him. Those exhilarating moments will probably be the most unforgettable in their lives," Jakosalem said.
He talked with Bruce only last Thursday.
Bruce was a co-owner of Flying Philippines, a flying school based in Mactan. He also owned Bruce Fossilstones International Corp., a furniture export company based in Tungkop, Minglanilla town in southern Cebu.
Ramon Ugarte of the Bureau of Immigration 7 said that Bruce was married to a Filipina and resided at North Town Homes in Mandaue City.
Bruce was a permanent resident in the Philippines and had been living in Cebu since 1988.
Transportation and Communications Assistant Secretary and ATO Chief Nilo Jatico said he already ordered an investigation on accident. (Elias O. Baquero/Sun.Star Cebu)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (November 26, 2006 issue)
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