# Accident 20040804018689A: Cessna 208B, Big Rapids, MI, August 4, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 4, 2004, 08:05 local time
- Place: Big Rapids, MI
- Airport: Roben-Hood Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EATA
- Location: 43.7225° N, 85.5042° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7225&lon=-85.5042&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1037N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1037N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 208B (registry code 2073701, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,492 total, 282 in this make and model, 185 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI04LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA213) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040804018689A

## Narrative

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

(-23) 08/04/04: AIRCRAFT DEPARTED GRR AND 3-4 MINUTES AFTER LEVELING OFF AT 7000', PILOT REPORTED GETTING CARGO DOOR WARNING LIGHT AND THEN HEARD "THUMP", ASKED FOR VECTORS TO NEAREST AIRPORT (RQB), LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. WALKAROUND SHOWED DAMAGE TO LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER LEADING EDGE. A BOX HAD DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT AND STRUCK THE STAB LEADING EDGE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. PILOT STATED THAT HE FORCED CARGO DOOR SHUT BECAUSE OF CARGO LOAD AND COCKPIT ANNUNCIATOR LIGHT WAS EXTINGUISHED AND DID NOT COME ON UNTIL DOOR CAME OPEN IN FLIGHT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT DOOR COULD BE FLEXED AND REAR LATCH NOT ENGAGED, OR DOOR HANDLE COULD BE OUT OF LOCKING DETENT AND ANNUNCIATOR WOULD EXTINGUISH, IMPLYING SAFE DOOR WHEN IN FACT DOOR WAS NOT PROPERLY LATCHED.

## 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 CHI04LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA213), Aug 4, 2004: Cessna 208B (N1037N), Big Rapids, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to verify that the cargo door was latched properly prior to flight and the subsequent in-flight opening of the door. A contributing factor was the box which departed the cargo…

## Other reports on N1037N (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20180101000369I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180101000369I), Jan 1, 2018: Cessna 208B (N1037N), Oklahoma City, OK, Minor damage. On January 1, 2018 at approximately 1900 CST, a Cessna 208B caravan, aircraft registration number N1037N, at will rogers world airport (okc) struck a taxiway…
- [Incident 20121129025569I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121129025569I), Nov 29, 2012: Cessna 208B (N1037N), Lansing, MI, No damage. On November 29, 2012, about 1955 eastern standard time, martinaire flight 609, a Cessna 208B, N1037N, pilot experienced a burning smell in the cockpit. The…

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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