What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Taking off on runway 36 the aircraft's front baggage door came partially open at lift off or shortly thereafter. According to the survivor sitting in the #6 seat, as the pilot initialed a right turn, the baggage door went to the full open position and the aircraft immediately rolled or tucked sharply, crashing into the water. (-23 amendment) note: the possibility the pilot failed in his attempt to secure the baggage door correctly is obvious. However the question is, "were there extenuating circumstances that contributed to this failure, when securing thie particular type baggage door?" See item #4, FAA nine responsibilities. Conclusion: the pilot apparently failed to properly secure the forward baggage door, which allowed it to open during takeoff. According to 14 CFR 91.3 (a) the pilot in command is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft. During the course of this investigation numerous anomalies were uncovered and corrective recommendations are currently being consider by the FAA and the manufacture.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) TAKING OFF ON RUNWAY 36 THE AIRCRAFT'S FRONT BAGGAGE DOOR CAME PARTIALLY OPEN AT LIFT OFF OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER. ACCORDING TO THE SURVIVOR SITTING IN THE #6 SEAT, AS THE PILOT INITIALED A RIGHT TURN, THE BAGGAGE DOOR WENT TO THE FULL OPEN POSITION AND THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY ROLLED OR TUCKED SHARPLY, CRASHING INTO THE WATER. (-23 AMENDMENT) NOTE: THE POSSIBILITY THE PILOT FAILED IN HIS ATTEMPT TO SECURE THE BAGGAGE DOOR CORRECTLY IS OBVIOUS. HOWEVER THE QUESTION IS, "WERE THERE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS FAILURE, WHEN SECURING THIE PARTICULAR TYPE BAGGAGE DOOR?" SEE ITEM #4, FAA NINE RESPONSIBILITIES. CONCLUSION: THE PILOT APPARENTLY FAILED TO PROPERLY SECURE THE FORWARD BAGGAGE DOOR, WHICH ALLOWED IT TO OPEN DURING TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO 14 CFR 91.3 (A) THE PILOT IN COMMAND IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR, AND IS THE FINAL AUTHORITY AS TO, THE OPERATION OF THAT AIRCRAFT. DURING THE COURSE OF THIS INVESTIGATION NUMEROUS ANOMALIES WERE UNCOVERED AND CORRECTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDER BY THE FAA AND THE MANUFACTURE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.