From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.
What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft rear cargo door opened during flight. (.4) the pilot reported he was in a descent to land when the cargo door opened and struck the side of the fuselage, causing substantial damage to the airframe. He said he thought he had latched and locked the door properly before he departed on the accident flight, but when it opened, he realized he had not. Postaccident inspection of the door and locking mechanism disclosed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT REAR CARGO DOOR OPENED DURING FLIGHT. (.4) THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS IN A DESCENT TO LAND WHEN THE CARGO DOOR OPENED AND STRUCK THE SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME. HE SAID HE THOUGHT HE HAD LATCHED AND LOCKED THE DOOR PROPERLY BEFORE HE DEPARTED ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, BUT WHEN IT OPENED, HE REALIZED HE HAD NOT. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE DOOR AND LOCKING MECHANISM DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREIMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.