Accident Overview
The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was completing a drug smuggling flight while the aircraft carried a load of marijuana. During the flight, both engines failed completely. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a desert area. The airplane crash-landed in a dry lake bed and struck a ditch. After the crash, the aircraft was abandoned, and the pilot was not found.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the failure of both engines following fuel exhaustion. Contributing factors reported include mismanagement of fuel, fuel exhaustion, rough/uneven terrain, and the illegal nature of the flight.