Remains of missing US pilot, plane, found

The plane, which disappeared last June, was discovered in a forest in Tombel Sub-division, Kupe-Muanenguba Division.

Administrative and security officials from Tombel Subdivision in Kupe-Muanenguba Division of the South West Region are still making their way out of the forest near Eboko Bajo village where they went to see and possibly collect the remains of a missing American pilot still stuck in the wreckage of his ill-fated small aircraft.

The Cessna 172 light aircraft went missing on Sunday June 22, 2014. It was on a flight from the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, Nigeria, to Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo, via the Douala International Airport.

The officials started off on the 35-km, 30-hour long trip into and from the thick forest on Sunday, April 12, 2015 at mid day. They included the Divisional Officer for Tombel Subdivision, Ayuk Edward Takor, the Gendarmerie Company Commander for Kupe-Muanenguba, Captain Mahok and the Commander of the Tombel Gendarmerie Post, ‘Adjudant Chef’ Ngoulouré Oumarou.

Following the plane’s disappearance last June, a search was launched with aircraft and a helicopter deployed to the corresponding flight path.

The search was conducted by Cameroonian and US authorities, assisted by a private charter company, the US Embassy had announced at the time. Talking to Cameroon Tribune on phone from deep inside the forest while on the way to the crash site on April 12, 2015, Ngoulouré Oumarou explained that the wreckage was found by local hunters from Eboko Bajo village on April 9, 2015.

This information was confirmed by the Member of Parliament for Tombel and Bangem, Hon. Nhon Ngujede Ngole Robert. Ngoulouré added that upon receiving the news of the discovery, the local village chief sent another team back into the forest to confirm the information before reporting to the authorities.

According to ‘Adjudant Chef’ Ngoulouré, Nalovoka Oliver, Motia Ivo and third person known only as ‘Alhadji,’ made the discovery while on a hunting trip.

They confirmed that the pilot of the aircraft was William Fitzpatrick, according to papers found on the spot. His insurance papers were also found in the wreckage, with his skeleton still in the cockpit. Fitzpatrick was the only one on board the plane with insignia ‘Ecogarde African Parks No. 9748N,’ Ngoulouré disclosed.

Information from the US Embassy in Cameroon shows that the pilot collected the newly-acquired plane from Dakar, Senegal, on June 19, 2014, where it had earlier been flown from America.

The plane was to be used for conservation and anti-poaching surveillance activities in and around Odzala-Kokoua National Park in Congo Brazzaville. A US citizen and experienced pilot with more than 25 years’ experience, William Fitzpatrick joined African Parks as Odzala’s resident pilot in November 2013.