What happened
During a nighttime flight from Orlando to Atlanta, the crew notified air traffic control regarding a fire that had broken out inside the cabin. In response to the emergency, the crew requested authorization to divert to the closest available airport. Shortly after this communication, the aircraft became uncontrollable and descended into a prairie in the vicinity of Alma, Georgia.
Witnesses on the ground observed flames penetrating the fuselage before the impact occurred. As the fire progressed, burning debris and cargo were dispersed across a wide area. The aircraft performed several left-hand turns while on fire before ultimately plunging into the ground. The force of the impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate. There were 2 fatalities among the crew.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the incident originated from the ignition of cargo located in the rear belly compartment. This ignition was triggered when an unguarded light bulb made contact with the cargo. The resulting fire managed to breach the compartment wall, which subsequently damaged a hydraulic component or line within the wing's center section near the rear spar. This damage caused flammable hydraulic fluid to ignite, leading to the catastrophic loss of control.