Shortly thereafter the crew requested to return to Miami due to smoke in the cockpit. Flight 592 was vectored for a runway 12 approach. At 7207ft, descending at 260kts on a 210 heading, the FDR stopped recording. Fifty seconds later ValuJet 592 struck a swamp with the nose pitched down 75-80 and disintegrated. It was concluded that there had been a very intense fire in the middle of the forward cargo hold, which burned through the cabin floor at seat rows 5 and 6 on the left hand side.
Investigations focus on a fire, possibly caused by oxygen generators carried in the cargo hold.
The aicraft carried boxes containing 144 oxygen cannisters and two MD-80 main wheel tyres in the forward hold.