What happened
The aircraft had been reported stolen earlier in the month. According to reports from the U.S. Customs Service, the plane was under aerial surveillance for more than nine hours. This surveillance began near Cuba, and the aircraft continued toward North Carolina while flying at a low altitude.
The airplane was eventually observed settling into trees located in a remote, mountainous region of western North Carolina. While the total number of occupants on board remains unknown, the pilot's injury is presumed.
The investigation
An inspection of the accident site revealed large quantities of marijuana and hashish oil. The interior of the aircraft had been modified; there were no seats present, and an extra bladder fuel tank had been installed within the fuselage. Based on the positions of the cockpit controls, investigators determined that the aircraft was intentionally crash landed.