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Forced Landing of a Drug Smuggling Aircraft Near Villavicencio (N98H)

Villavicencio, ColombiaFlight

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: Forced down by Colombian Air Force during an illegal flight. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A drug smuggling aircraft was forced down by the Colombian Air Force near Villavicencio, resulting in a crash landing. Both pilots were arrested, and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Incident Overview During a drug smuggling flight, the aircraft was intercepted and forced down by the Colombian Air Force. The plane subsequently crash-landed in the vicinity of Villavicencio. ## Aftermath Following the forced landing, both pilots were taken into custody by authorities. The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it beyond repair. The incident was attributed to the Colombian Air Force's intervention during an illegal flight operation. ## Official Findings The probable cause of the incident was officially determined to be the aircraft being forced down by the Colombian Air Force during an illegal flight.

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