Incident Overview
A pilot, who was probably the sole occupant, was conducting an unauthorized flight from Mexico to Florida while carrying contraband. During the journey, the aircraft experienced fuel exhaustion, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash-landed near Homestead and was subsequently abandoned.
Contraband and Aircraft Status
Upon examination, a load of 1,000 pounds of marijuana was discovered on board the aircraft. Further investigation revealed that the aircraft had been stolen.
Pilot Status
Despite search efforts, the pilot was not recovered from the crash site.
Official Findings
The probable cause of the incident was determined to be an engine failure or malfunction due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing factors reported include inadequate preflight preparation, mismanagement of fuel, fuel exhaustion, operation of a stolen aircraft, and an injury index presumed.