No fatalities

Cargo of Marijuana and Excessive Speed Lead to Overrun Accident (AN-BFN)

Charleston-Yaeger (Kanawha), United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On June 6, 1979, a Douglas DC-6 (registration AN-BFN) operated by Private Nicaraguan was involved in an aviation accident near Charleston-Yaeger (Kanawha), United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Overshoot and subsequent collision with objects after the crew misjudged distance and speed on approach. The following contributing factors were reported: - Attempted operation beyond experience/ability level, - Lack of familiarity with aircraft, - Ran off… This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

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

A four-engine airplane carrying 20,000 lbs of marijuana overran the runway after landing at excessive speed, collided with obstacles, and caught fire. All three crew members were seriously injured.

Incident Overview

A four-engine airplane, operating an illegal flight with a load of 20,000 lbs of marijuana, experienced a serious accident during landing. The aircraft touched down at an excessive speed and was unable to stop within the remaining runway distance. It overran the runway, collided with obstacles, and came to rest in fire. The aircraft was destroyed, and all three crew members sustained serious injuries.

Flight Details

The flight was characterized as illegal due to the nature of the cargo. No further details regarding the aircraft type, registration, origin, or destination were provided in the official findings. The crew consisted of three individuals, all of whom were seriously injured. The accident occurred after touchdown, with the aircraft failing to decelerate adequately.

Probable Cause

The official probable cause of the accident was an overshoot and subsequent collision with objects, resulting from the crew's misjudgment of distance and speed on approach. Contributing factors included attempted operation beyond the crew's experience and ability level, lack of familiarity with the aircraft, running off the end of the runway, and the crew not being type-rated in the aircraft.