Pilot Debrief

SOCATA TB-20 Trinidad near Cassville, WI — 2008-09-03

Final reportCHI08LA272
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Date
2008-09-03
Location
Cassville, WI, USA
Airport
C74
Aircraft
SOCATA TB-20 Trinidad
Registration
N597TB
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The left seat pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around and the inadvertent in-flight opening of the cabin door for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the distraction of the door opening.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the distraction of the door opening.

NTSB narrative

Two pilots, who were enrolled in an aviation training program, preflighted the airplane for a flight that was to pick up a friend at the destination airport. After departure, the right cabin door opened for reportedly unknown reasons, and was then held closed by the right seat pilot. The left seat pilot diverted to a nearby airport. During the approach the left seat pilot elected to perform a go-around because the approach "didn't look good." During the go-around, the door reopened, and the airplane rolled to the right and impacted the ground. The right seat pilot was fatally injuried. The airplane was equipped with gull wing type doors, which do not open against the direction of the relative airflow. The in-flight opening of a cabin door is not listed as an emergency in the Pilot's Information Manual and flight with a door open was not tested by the airplane manufacturer. Furthermore, flight is prohibited with a door being open or ajar. The airplane was consumed by fire and only portions of the door assemblies were recovered.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have secured the door before takeoff or aborted the flight after it opened.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ATC audio
  • Photos
  • 63 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documentsshowing 50 of 63

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