BLOWING ROCK, NC, USA
N63872
PIPER PA-23-250
THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN REPORTED STOLEN EARLER IN THE MONTH. US CUSTOMS SERVICE REPORTED THAT IT HAD BEEN UNDER AERIAL SURVEILLANCE FOR MORE THAN 9 HRS. SURVEILLANCE BEGAN NEAR CUBA, AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO NORTH CAROLINA AT LOW ALTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO SETTLE INTO TREES IN A REMOTE, MOUNTAINOUS AREA OF WESTERN NC. INSPECTION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED LARGE QUANTITIES OF MARIHUANA AND HASHISH OIL. THE AIRPLANE HAD NO SEATS, AND THERE WAS AN EXTRA BLADDER FUEL TANK INSTALLED IN THE FUSELAGE. THE POSITIONS OF COCKPIT CONTROLS INDICATES THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS INTENTIONALLY CRASH LANDED. TOTAL NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS ON BOARD IS UNKNOWN. THE PILOT'S INJURY IS PRESUMED.
On June 19, 1994, at 1845 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-23-250, N63872, collided with trees while landing near Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and fire. The occupants of the aircraft could not be located following the accident, and their injuries are unknown. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 by an unknown operator. According to U.S. Customs officials, the aircraft was reported stolen earlier in the month. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was on file for the flight. The origin and destination of the flight are unknown, as is the departure time of the flight. The aircraft was under aerial surveillance by U.S. Customs aircraft since about 0900 on the day of the accident. The aircraft was initially observed in the Caribbean area, near Cuba. The flight continued at low altitude, without landing, until the aircraft was observed to settle into trees in a remote, wooded, mountainous area in western North Carolina. When local law enforcement authorities arrived at the scene, no crewmembers or passengers were found. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration visited the accident site and examined the wreckage. The wreckage was destroyed by impact damage and fire. He reported that the landing gear were found in the retracted position, and the flaps were extended. Both engine propellers were in the feathered position. All circuit breakers were pulled. The throttles were retarded, and the mixture levers were at idle cut-off. There were no remains of any navigational equipment at the site, except for a radar unit, a communications receiver, and a automotive-type radar detector. The aircraft was not equipped with seats, and there was evidence of an extra bladder-type fuel cell located in the fuselage. There were large quantities of marihuana and hashish oil present at the accident site. As of September 13, 1994, the occupants of the aircraft were still at large.
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN (REMOTE, WOODED, MOUNTAINOUS) FOR AN INTENTIONAL CRASH LANDING.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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