On October 2, 1977, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration N98H) operated by Jack Lenhardt was involved in an aviation accident near Villavicencio, Colombia in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was forced to land by the Colombian Air Force while engaged in an unauthorized narcotics flight. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
An aircraft involved in a narcotics transport mission was intercepted and brought down by the Colombian Air Force, resulting in a crash landing.
What happened
During an aerial mission intended for drug trafficking, an unidentified aircraft was intercepted by the Colombian Air Force. The encounter forced the flight to descend prematurely, leading to a crash landing in the vicinity of Villavicencio.
Following the impact, the two crew members on board were taken into custody by authorities. The incident resulted in no reported fatalities, though the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the event determined that the primary reason for the crash was the interception and forced descent executed by military personnel during the illegal flight operation.
Probable cause
The aircraft was forced to land by the Colombian Air Force while engaged in an unauthorized narcotics flight.