# NTSB ANC86IA088: Cessna 404, N4450M, St Marys, AK, June 21, 1986

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: June 21, 1986, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: St Marys, AK
- Coordinates: 62.060752, -163.290847 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.0608&lon=-163.2908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4615
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC86IA088
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4615/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC86IA088

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - normal
  - door,exterior crew - loss,total (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING THE DESCENT INTO ST. MARY'S, ALASKA, THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND CHECKED THE REAR DOOR AND THEN THE FRONT CREW DOOR. WHEN THE HANDLE OF THE CREW DOOR WAS RETOUCHED IT FLEW OPEN AND DEPARTED THE AIRPLANE TAKING ABOUT ONE SQUARE FOOT OF THE CABIN ROOF WITH IT. THE PILOT SLOWED THE AIRPLANE DOWN AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4450M (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 404
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4040833
- Airframe hours: 1430
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-M 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Stan Herman, doing business as Herman'S Air, Inc
- Registered owner: Stan Herman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 16, 1986
- Departed: BET, BETHEL, AK
- Destination: KSM, ST. MARYS, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,300 total, 100 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19860621039629I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860621039629I), Jun 21, 1986: Cessna 404CESSNA, St Marys, AK, Minor damage. Door warning annunciator came on during descent. Door separated from aircraft. Cause unknown.

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.

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