Flight and Incident
While cruising at an altitude of 5,400 meters on a flight from Vinnitsa to Simferopol, the crew informed air traffic control that smoke had spread in the cabin. They were cleared to divert to Chișinău Airport. Shortly thereafter, engine number four caught fire. The crew feathered its propeller when the oil pressure dropped, but the propeller subsequently left the feather mode.
Emergency Landing
Unable to maintain the prescribed altitude, the captain elected to make an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in a field located 38 kilometers north of Chișinău Airport and came to rest.
Injuries and Damage
The navigator, the radio operator, one flight attendant, and 19 passengers sustained slight injuries. One passenger was killed. All other occupants escaped uninjured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be a failure of a hydraulic line in engine number four during flight, which caused oil to spill and catch fire, combined with poor engine maintenance.