What happened
During a scheduled cargo operation, the flight crew notified air traffic control of an active fire within the aircraft cabin. In response to the emergency, the crew initiated a diversion toward Castle AFB to perform an emergency landing.
As the aircraft descended, the fire expanded from the cabin into the cargo area. Due to the escalating situation, the captain determined that an immediate landing in an open field was necessary. The aircraft type (unspecified) performed a belly landing a short distance from the airbase. Upon impact, the plane came to rest and was consumed by flames. Although the two crew members managed to evacuate the wreckage without any injuries, the aircraft was completely destroyed.
Findings
Investigations into the incident determined that fuel had leaked from the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) during flight. This leaking fuel ignited the cargo materials positioned around the APU, causing the fire. The investigation concluded that the primary contributing factor was inadequate maintenance and inspection procedures performed by the operating company.