# Accident 19970423012889A: Cessna 207A, Minto, AK, April 23, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 23, 1997, 11:45 local time
- Place: Minto, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: FFSA
- Location: 65.1503° N, 149.3692° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.1503&lon=-149.3692&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1785U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 207A
- Reported engine: CONT IO520F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,831 total, 56 in this make and model, 56 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA075) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970423012889A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE SCHEDULED COMMUTER FLIGHT WAS AT CRUISE ALTITUDE WHEN THE CARGO DOOR OPENED IN FLIGHT AND STRUCK THE SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE. THE AIRPLANE LANDED WITHOUT MISHAP. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION DISCLOSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE IN THE AREA WHERE THE DOOR IMPACTED. THE PILOT BELIEVED HE HAD LATCHED THE DOOR PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. INSPECTION OF THE DOOR AND LATCHING MECHANISM DISCLOSED NO MECHNICAL ENOMALIES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC97LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA075), Apr 23, 1997: Cessna 207A (N1785U), Minto, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane, which resulted in an unlatched door opening in-flight.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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