# Accident 20150723013139A: Israel Aircraft Industries 1125 WESTWIND ASTRA, Glen Burnie, MD, July 23, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 23, 2015, 20:50 local time
- Place: Glen Burnie, MD
- Airport: Baltimore-Washington Internati
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1742° N, 76.6714° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1742&lon=-76.6714&mi=10
- Aircraft: N765A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N765A-2019-07-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Israel Aircraft Industries 1125 WESTWIND ASTRA (registry code 4500305, https://openairdocs.org/model/israel-aircraft-industries-1125-westwind-astra) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Garrett TFE731 series (registry code 29001, https://openairdocs.org/engine/garrett-tfe731-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ISRAEL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES 1125 WESTWIND ASTRA
- Reported engine: GARRETT TFE 731 SER
- People aboard: 7
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,265 total, 285 in this make and model, 106 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15LA292](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA292) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150723013139A

## Narrative

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

CO-PILOT SECURED DOOR AND VERIFIED CABIN DOOR AND CABIN SEAL LIGHT WERE EXTINGUISHED. THE PILOT TAXIED TO THE RUNWAY AND BEGAN TAKEOFF. DURING CLIMB, AT ABOUT 400 FT, PILOT NOTICED BOTH CABIN DOOR AND CABIN SEAL LIGHTS BECAME ILLUMINATED. THE CO-PILOT VERIFIED THE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AND CHECKED SECURITY OF THE DOOR. THE DOOR APPEARED  SECURED AND HE DID NOT HEAR ANY WIND OR OTHER INDICATION THAT THE DOOR MAY HAVE COME AJAR. BOTH PILOTS AGREED TO RETURN FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING, AND COORDINATED REQUEST WITH ATC. THE PILOT WAS ASSIGNED A HEADING AND 2,000 FT AGL AND TOLD TO CONTACT POTOMAC TRACON. PILOTS CONTACTED POTOMAC TRACON AND ADVISED THE TRACON THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO DUMP FUEL BEFORE LANDING. POTOMAC TRACON ASSIGNED AN EASTERLY HEADING AND 4,000 FT AGL. UPON REACHING THE ASSIGNED ALTITUDE THE DOOR BLEW OPEN AND TOOK OUT COMMUNICATIONS. PILOTS TRANSMITTED TO ATC MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY AND SQUAWKED 7700 WITH NO RESPONSE. THE PILOTS WERE ABLE TO LAND WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## 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 ERA15LA292](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA292), Jul 24, 2015: Israel Aircraft Industries 1125 Westwind Astra (N765A), Baltimore, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight crew's failure to visually ensure that the cabin door locking pin was in place before takeoff.

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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