Background
A night cargo service departed Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport, bound for Campinas-Viracopos with an intermediate stop in Porto Alegre.
Events
While cruising at an altitude of 17,000 feet, smoke was detected in the cargo compartment. The crew attempted to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful. They contacted air traffic control, declared an emergency, and attempted to divert to Montevideo Airport. However, ATC suggested diverting to Melo, which was the nearest airport. As Melo airfield was closed to traffic at that time, ATC contacted a night guard who switched on the runway lights and alerted local emergency services.
Landing and Evacuation
The aircraft landed 340 meters past the runway 07 threshold and stopped 640 meters further. The crew evacuated via the cockpit windows and was uninjured. The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause was that numerous oil samples, plant tissues, and several animals that were transported would have reacted on contact with an exothermic chemical reaction and associated combustion. The event originated with the spilling of liquid from containers not suitable for differential pressure, with little excess capacity for expansion and filled with indiscriminate materials. Low stringency in filling forms for description of product delivered for shipment in company offices and little control or careless handling of the load would have contributed to the occurrence of the accident.