Pilots Execute Safe Landing Only to Leave the Scene in Cuffs

A Piper Cherokee executed an emergency landing on State Route 76 in Oceanside, California on September 26. Though the pilot and passenger were both unharmed, a search of the aircraft led to them being arrested for suspected drug trafficking.

Oceanside police received and responded to a call from the pilot just before 2:00 am. The aircraft was having an engine malfunction and was forced to land on SR-76 near Canyon Drive. It was piloted by 21-year-old Gabriel Breit, with 36-year-old Troy Smith along for the ride. Neither of them were injured.

Officers were reportedly inspecting the plane when they noticed one of the passengers tossing a backpack into the bushes. They decided to search the men and found a small amount of cocaine, but the real winner was the backpack: one kilogram, or 2.2 lbs, of narcotics was discovered.

“It doesn’t surprise me,” stated OPD Assistant Chief Taurino Valdovinos. “I think we have narcotics coming into our country in various ways, but I think the surprising part is the emergency landing and how we came across it.”

Breit and Smith were arrested and taken into custody for the illegal transportation of narcotics.

The aircraft is believed to be a rental. Records for the tail number, N1711T, show that it is a Piper PA-28-235 registered to Leadturn LLC. It seems to have departed from Mesa, Arizona (FFZ) just after 11:00 pm and landed a mere 2 miles short of Bob Maxwell Memorial Airfield’s runway 07. Officers commented that the duo was traveling to Oceanside when they called in to report the engine failure.

The reason for the malfunction, and the relationship between Breit and Smith, remains unknown. The North County Narcotics Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and FAA have stepped in to investigate the incident. Until then, Breit and Smith will be spending their spare time in the can.

FMI: www.oceansidepolice.com