What happened
A four-engine aircraft departed from Ponce, destined for Miami, when the crew attempted an emergency landing on soft ground located north of Monroe Station. The landing took place on terrain that was not suitable for aviation operations. During the touchdown on the muddy surface, at least one part of the landing gear failed and collapsed, causing the plane to come to a halt. Following the incident, authorities discovered 1,700 kilograms of marijuana inside the aircraft. All three occupants managed to exit the wreckage without sustaining any injuries, though the aircraft was declared a total loss due to the extent of the damage.
Findings
The investigation into the accident highlighted several critical factors that led to the gear failure and subsequent crash:
- The landing was performed on wet and soft soil which could not support the weight of the plane.
- The flight was identified as an unauthorized or stolen operation.
- The aircraft was operating under conditions involving an overload failure.