Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain near Piñon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1976 at 0010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
Registration:
N54294
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
31-7405231
YOM:
1974
Location:
Piñon
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Apparently coming from Mexico, the twin engine airplane was completing an illegal flight, carrying a load of 600 kilos of marijuana. After a first low pass, the pilot reduced his altitude and while attempting a second low pass, probably to jettison the load, the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames. The wreckage was found a day later and both occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground during a low pass by night. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misjudged altitude and clearance,
- High obstructions,
- Hit trees on second low pass.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-80 Queen Air in Lake Placid

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1976 at 2120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Registration:
N345X
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
LD-141
YOM:
1963
Location:
Lake Placid
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Lake Placid by night, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck trees and crashed. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was injured. He was completing a contraband flight. At the time of the accident, the airport was unlit.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees during a traffic pattern-circling approach by night. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misjudged distance and altitude,
- Hauling contraband,
- Circling unlit airport at night.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Woodland

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1976 at 2131 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Gary K. Brage
Registration:
N39U
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
A-279
YOM:
1946
Location:
Woodland-Yolo County
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Parked at Yolo County Airport, the twin engine airplane was stolen by two men who wanted to make a probable illegal flight. During the takeoff roll, the pilot lost control of the airplane that veered off runway, collided with ditches and came to rest in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were not recovered.
Probable cause:
Undetermined. Aircraft stolen.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft TC-45G Expeditor in El Vado

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
N9907Z
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
AF-105
YOM:
1952
Location:
El Vado
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing on a snow covered runway, the twin engine airplane ground looped, hit a barrel and came to rest. The aircraft was set afire and destroyed and the pilot disappeared. Transport of contraband.
Probable cause:
Ground looped after the pilot failed to maintain directional control on a snow covered runway. Illegal flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-7 Navigator near Tena

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-7 Navigator
Operator:
Registration:
505
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tres Esquinas – Puerto Leguízamo
MSN:
6706
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tena
Napo
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was supposed to fly from Tres Esquinas to Puerto Leguízamo but as the flight was illegal, they departed the Colombian Airspace for Ecuador. En route, an unexpected situation forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing by the Rio Pusuno, east of the city of Tena. All three occupants escaped and were arrested while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. A load of cocaine was found on board.

Crash of a Beechcraft TC-45G Expeditor in Steins

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
George A. Sanborn
Registration:
N9430Z
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
MSN:
AF-73
YOM:
1952
Location:
Steins
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a drug smuggling light and the aircraft was carrying a load of marijuana. Following a complete failure of both engines, the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a desert area when the airplane crash landed in a dry lake bed and hit a ditch. The aircraft was abandoned and the pilot was not found.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines following a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Rough/uneven terrain,
- Illegal flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a North American B-25H Mitchell in Dawsonville: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1975 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
N96GC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
100-21337
YOM:
1942
Location:
Dawsonville
Georgia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
6700
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a drug smuggling flight on this aircraft that was carrying 49 bales of marijuana. While flying at low height by night, the crew misjudged the distance with ground when the airplane hit the side of a high bluff and crashed about half a mile from an open field. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew misjudged altitude and clearance with ground. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- Unwarranted low flying.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Rockwood: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1975 at 0150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
N75G
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Gainesville - Rockwood
MSN:
2482
YOM:
1943
Location:
Rockwood
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
10685
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in an illegal flight from Gainesville to Rockwood, carrying a load of marijuana. On final approach to Rockwood Municipal Airport by night, in a gear up and flaps down configuration, the crew apparently attempted a low pass when the airplane struck trees located about a quarter mile short of runway and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused after the pilot-in-command failed to maintain flying speed and diverted attention from operation of the aircraft while completing a low pass by night.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Culiacán Rosales: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Dallas Chapter
Registration:
N730EG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
5274
YOM:
1943
Location:
Culiacán Rosales
Sinaloa
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed under unknown circumstances in the region of Culiacán Rosales while engaged in an illegal flight. Both crew members were killed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56-23 LodeStar in Veracruz: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1975 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Hartzog Aviation
Registration:
N35L
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2434
YOM:
1943
Location:
Veracruz-General Heriberto Jara Corona
Veracruz
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
7000
Circumstances:
Just after takeoff from Veracruz-General Heriberto Jara Airport, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in flames. Both occupants were killed.
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