Incident Overview
A twin-engine cargo aircraft, carrying one pilot and one passenger along with bank documents, departed Maracay on a flight to Puerto Ordaz. During cruise, the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit to air traffic control and decided to divert to the nearest airport. The aircraft subsequently attempted an emergency landing in an open field approximately 20 kilometers east of Zaraza.
Landing and Fire
After touchdown, the aircraft rolled for a few dozen meters before coming to rest and bursting into flames. Both occupants escaped uninjured. The aircraft was totally destroyed by the fire.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that during the cruise phase of a transport of values flight, a smoke emergency appeared in the cockpit. Unable to control the smoke, the pilot conducted a precautionary emergency landing in a nonprepared field. The landing resulted in no apparent damage to the aircraft, but a fire later ignited, leading to the almost total destruction of the aircraft. The fire was very probably due to an electrical failure that originated the smoke.