Accident Overview
A four-engine aircraft departed Ponce, Puerto Rico, on a flight bound for Miami, Florida. The crew attempted to land on unsuitable terrain located north of Monroe Station, Florida, while completing an illegal smuggling flight.
Incident Details
Upon landing on muddy ground, at least one landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest. All three occupants escaped uninjured, while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. A load of 1,700 kilograms of marijuana was found on board.
Investigation Findings
The official probable cause was that the gear collapsed upon landing on unsuitable terrain. Contributing factors reported include: stolen or unauthorized flight, wet and soft ground, and overload failure.