What happened
During a nighttime operation, a twin engine airplane attempted to land on a runway that had been officially closed. The aircraft was being operated without authorization. Following the touchdown, the plane entered a ground loop, which caused it to veer off the landing surface and collide with a dirt embankment. The impact resulted in a post-crash fire that completely destroyed the airframe.
At the time of the incident, the pilot was the only person on board the aircraft. Despite the intensity of the fire, the pilot was not located at the scene of the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several critical contributing factors:
- The landing was performed on unsuitable terrain that was not an active runway.
- The pilot chose to land on a strip that was known to be closed to traffic.
- The unauthorized nature of the flight and the use of a closed runway led to the loss of control.
- Law enforcement officials discovered evidence of cocaine residue within the aircraft following the wreckage inspection.