CONCEPCION, Tarlac (Oct. 18, 2025) – A recreational flight ended in tragedy on Saturday morning when an ultralight aircraft crashed into a rice field in Barangay Panalicsian here, claiming the lives of its two young occupants and prompting the national aviation authority to ground the operations of the involved air operator.
The victims were identified as 19-year-old pilot John Paul Boiles of Angeles City, Pampanga, and his passenger, Joana Ruth Denoza, 18, of Macabebe, Pampanga.
According to the authorities, the single-engine, two-seater plane took off from the neighboring town of Magalang, Pampanga, and was seen circling the area before it plummeted into the rice field at 11:00 a.m.
The crash site is inaccessible to vehicles, and rescuers have to walk 10 minutes – including a crossing of a waterway – from the road.
Both victims were declared dead on arrival at the Concepcion District Hospital.
In response to the incident, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has grounded the entire operations of Woodland Airpark, the base of the ultralight aircraft.
CAAP Director General Retired Lt. Gen. Raul Del Rosario stated that Acting Secretary Lopez also ordered an immediate safety and operations audit to assess the airworthiness of the aircraft and the operator’s compliance with aviation safety standards.
The aircraft is restricted to operate within its designated Flying Club Aerodrome, limited to a maximum altitude of 800 feet, and must be conducted strictly under Visual Flight Rules conditions.
“The Authority will take appropriate action against any individual or organization found to have violated existing aviation safety laws and operational guidelines,” Del Rosario said in a statement.
He clarified that under the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations, ultralight aircraft are classified as Non-Certificated Type Aircraft and are authorized for recreational purposes only, with strict operational limits.
