On January 10, 1982, a Piper PA-23-250 (registration N567V) was involved in an aviation accident near Okeechobee, FL. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The aircraft owner and a friend were hospitalized with serious injuries after reporting a robbery. The next morning, the owner’s aircraft was found crashed on an airstrip, having struck eight trees. Cannabis and milk jugs containing flammable liquid were found near the wreckage.
Incident Overview
At approximately 2115 local time, the owner of an aircraft and a companion were taken to a hospital emergency room with serious injuries. They stated that they had been attacked and robbed while hitchhiking. The following morning, the owner's aircraft was discovered crashed on an airstrip. The airplane had struck eight trees before coming to rest. The landing gear was found in the down position.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the crash site revealed that only the cockpit and fuselage had burned. Two plastic milk jugs emitting an odor of a flammable liquid were found positioned on the left engine. Cannabis was also discovered near the wreckage. No other parts of the aircraft exhibited signs of fire damage.