# Passenger/crew doors

- Type: NTSB finding subsection
- Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft structures](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0103) › [Doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010352) › Passenger/crew doors
- NTSB code: 01035210
- Cases: 86
- In the probable cause: 79
- Fatal cases: 16
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210

## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all)

- 2008: 6 / 7
- 2009: 6 / 6
- 2010: 9 / 10
- 2011: 5 / 5
- 2012: 5 / 6
- 2013: 4 / 4
- 2014: 6 / 6
- 2015: 7 / 8
- 2016: 5 / 6
- 2017: 5 / 6
- 2018: 3 / 3
- 2019: 2 / 2
- 2020: 2 / 2
- 2021: 3 / 3
- 2022: 3 / 3
- 2023: 1 / 1
- 2024: 3 / 4
- 2025: 2 / 2
- 2026: 2 / 2

## Defining events in these cases

- [Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338): 22 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 22 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 14 cases
- [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 12 cases
- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 4 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 2 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 2 cases
- [Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080): 2 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 1 cases
- [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Eurocopter EC 130 B4](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-ec-130-b4): 2 cases
- [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b): 2 cases
- [Vans RV-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/vans-rv-12): 2 cases
- [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER](https://openairdocs.org/model/czech-sport-aircraft-a-s-sportcruiser): 2 cases
- [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR PLUS](https://openairdocs.org/model/evektor-aerotechnik-sportstar-plus): 2 cases
- [Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SPORTCRUISER](https://openairdocs.org/model/czech-aircraft-works-spol-sro-sportcruiser): 2 cases
- [Pzl-Swidnik PW-6U](https://openairdocs.org/model/pzl-swidnik-pw-6u): 1 cases
- [Thorp T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/thorp-t-18): 1 cases
- [Eurocopter France EC 130 B4](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-france-ec-130-b4): 1 cases
- [Eurocopter AS 350 B3](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 36 cases
- [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 13 cases
- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 10 cases
- [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 9 cases
- [Forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035) (Personnel issues): 9 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 9 cases
- [Attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510) (Personnel issues): 9 cases
- [Use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030) (Personnel issues): 8 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 7 cases
- [Pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022) (Aircraft): 6 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA292](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA292), Aug 4, 2026: Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/LT (N330SB), Whitehouse, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to ensure the canopy was properly locked before flight, which resulted in the canopy opening during takeoff.
- [NTSB CEN26LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA205), May 13, 2026: Vans RV4 (N292M), Conroe, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to properly latch the canopy before flight, which led to the canopy opening shortly after takeoff.
- [NTSB ERA26LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA085), Nov 26, 2025: Burkhart Grob Luft UND Raumfah G103 Twin Astir Trai (N103T), Brownsboro, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to properly lock the rear canopy prior to flight, which led to the canopy opening during aerotow at low altitude, and a subsequent off-airport landing in a corn field.
- [NTSB WPR25LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA110), Mar 10, 2025: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N44KY), Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of helicopter control after the door opened during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to confirm that the door was properly closed before departure.
- [NTSB ERA25LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA070), Dec 7, 2024: William M Clapp CLAPP-SABERWING (N100SW), Valdosta, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A hard landing and subsequent gear collapse due to the pilot’s failure to securely close the airplane canopy and its subsequent opening on short final.
- [NTSB ERA25LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA063), Nov 20, 2024: Holtz Rodney R Challenger II (N1666R), Concord, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control and eventual stall/mush of the airplane while trying to secure an open door in flight.
- [NTSB ERA24FA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA154), Mar 25, 2024: Mooney M20K (N4387W), St. Augustine, FL, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed of the airplane while in the traffic pattern, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin. Contributing was the pilot’s distraction due to the…
- [NTSB ERA24FA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA097), Jan 26, 2024: Beech C99 (N53RP), Londonderry, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to ensure that the cockpit door was secured before flight, which resulted in its separation during initial climb and a subsequent loss of control.
- [NTSB CEN23FA359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA359), Aug 12, 2023: Vans RV14 (N6161), Virden, IL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot/builder’s improper configuration of the canopy latch micro switch, which incorrectly signaled a closed canopy before flight that resulted in an inflight opening of the airplane’s canopy, an…
- [NTSB ERA23LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA013), Oct 8, 2022: Schempp-Hirth Discus CS (N520RJ), Woodstock, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Improper repair of a crack by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a subsequent failure of the glider canopy.

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted.

Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1).

NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names.

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