Illegal (smuggling)

The aircraft was involved in illegal activity when it was intentionally landed in an open pasture. During the landing, the aircraft veered left and struck a 30 inches high concrete culvert. The gear collapsed on contact with the culvert. Unknown personnel subsequently drug the aircraft with a vehicle to a barn. When they attempted to drag the aircraft into the barn, they tore the wings off and damaged the barn.

On or about 3/25/85, the aircraft was landed on a short private strip. During the landing, it overran the strip, then collided with a dirt bank and a tree. The pilot abandoned the aircraft. Neither he nor the new owner could be found. There was evidence that the aircraft had been set afire after the accident. The aircraft bore a registration of N23LX, but the aircraft data plate and FAA records showed that a registration of N23L should have been displayed. During a seemingly unrelated arrest, police found the records of N23L in another aircraft that was loaded with 1,500 lbs of marijuana. The pilot was presumed to have had no injuries.

After takeoff from Dangriga Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane suffered an engine failure, lost height and crashed in a huge explosion. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. He was en route to Florida on a contraband flight, carrying a load of marijuana.

The pilot was carrying illegal cargo (marijuana) in N4001Q. During a low high speed pass at night over an intended landing area, the aircraft struck rising terrain. There was approximately 800 lbs of marijuana on the aircraft. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crashed while taking off from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport by night. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were injured. According to authorities, the flight was illegal (contraband).

The pilot, sole on board, was completing an illegal flight and attempted to land in a remote area near St Petersburg when the aircraft crash landed in unclear circumstances. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was not found.

The aircraft was found abandoned. Wreckage scene indicates collision with trees prior to collision with terrain. Aircraft suspected of being used for illegal cargo operations. The pilot was not found.

The aircraft was found where it had crashed and burned on a rough lava bed. The crash site was about one mile northeast of a road where drug smuggling aircraft had been known to land in the past. There was evidence that cocaine had been removed from the accident site. The wreckage had been camouflaged by placing lava rocks on the shiny pieces of metal. There was evidence that the plane had crashed in a left wing low attitude while in a landing configuration. No preimpact/mechanical part failure or malfunction was found. The elevation of the crash site was about 2,930 feet. The aircraft wreckage was discovered on 6/2/84. The actual time of the accident was not determined. Both occupants were killed.

En route from The Bahamas to Florida, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea about 17 km off Rat Cay Island. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. Contraband was found on board. Illegal flight.

At approximately 2330 est, witnesses near the crash site heard an aircraft, and shortly thereafter, they saw a flash. One of them, who was driving a car, went back to the area the next day and found the aircraft wreckage. The aircraft had crashed and burned about one mile from the approach end of runway 24. Wreckage was strewn along an area of about 250 feet long and was oriented on a heading of 230°. The aircraft was descending in an estimate 40° dive when it hit the ground. An exam of the wreckage did not disclose any evidence of a malfunction. About 3,500 lbs of marijuana was found in the wreckage. The 2010 weather at the airport was: indefinite 500 feet obscuration, visibility 1 1/4 mile with rain and light fog, temperature 33°, wind from 280° at 5 knots. Another pilot had landed at 2015. He said his aircraft had accumulated a trace of rime ice. At the time of the accident, witnesses said the roads were lightly covered with ice snow. Both occupants were killed.