- Date
- April 12, 2007, 20:45 local (Apr 13, 2007, 03:45 UTC)
- Place
- Glendale, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N756HQCessna U206G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070412015929A
- Case key
- 65684
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to properly latch the door prior to takeoff.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The private pilot reported that he was conducting a flight for night currency. Shortly after takeoff, approximately 20 feet above ground level (agl), the rear cargo door opened. The pilot landed on the remaining runway without further incident. Post accident examination of the cargo door revealed substantial damage to the door support assembly and fuselage. The pilot stated he secured the door prior to takeoff; however, he did not have the door fully pushed in and latched.
Factual narrative
The private pilot reported that he was conducting a flight for night currency. Shortly after takeoff, approximately 20 feet above ground level (agl), the rear cargo door opened. The pilot landed on the remaining runway without further incident. Post accident examination of the cargo door revealed substantial damage to the door support assembly and fuselage. The pilot stated he secured the door prior to takeoff; however, he did not have the door fully pushed in and latched.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N756HQ
- Reported as
- Cessna U206G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- U20604107
- Engine
- Continental IO-520, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Part 91
- Operator
- Steve R. Roberts
- Registered owner
- Maricopa County SO
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- GEU · Glendale, AZ
- Destination
- GEU · Glendale, AZ
- Airport
- GEU · Glendale Municipal, runway 19, 7,150 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 288 total · 217 in this make and model · 34 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.