Cessna 320 N320AZ accident near Lake Heron, New Mexico

Probable cause

The pilot’s controlled flight into terrain while conducting a flight at low altitude in instrument meteorological conditions.

NTSB analysis

The airplane was on a cross-country flight. A witness, who was on a lake, reported that he heard the sound of an airplane pass low over his head. He added that the engine sound went silent and that he saw a splash of water as the airplane impacted the lake. The airplane was not recovered from the lake; however, highly fragmented parts of the airplane were recovered. Numerous packages, reportedly illegal narcotics, surfaced from the wreckage and were seized by the authorities. At the time of the accident, rain and thunderstorms were reported in the area. The accident is consistent with controlled flight into terrain, while the pilot was operating at low altitude in reduced visibility conditions.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN11LA307 for the full record.