Bismarck Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bismarck, North Dakota 56504
Thursday, July 23, 2009 12:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot had the copilot close the cabin entry door, which later came open while the airplane climbed through 500 feet above ground level after takeoff. The pilot executed a return to the departure airport where the airplane was landed without further incident. The door remained attached at the hinge and about half of the door skin was pulled away resulting in damage to the airplane pressure vessel. The pilot stated that the CABIN DOOR annunciator was never illuminated. The operator reported that all the door latches were in the extended positions after the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The cabin entry door inadvertently opening during initial climb.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/23/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Bismarck
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 56504
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 464622n
Event Location Longitude 1004445w
Event Location Airport Bismarck Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BIS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1661
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1152 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID BIS
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25971
NTSB Notification Source Fargo FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 28 2009 5:54PM
User who most recently changed record dinc
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N405DD
NTSB Number CEN09CA470
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY
Aircraft Model C90A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number LJ1748
Certified Max Gross Weight 10100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Apr 20 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1037
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UND Aerospace Foundation
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Grand Forks
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58202
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name UND Aerospace Foundation
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Grand Forks
Operator State ND
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 58202
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BIS
Departure City Bismarck
Departure State ND
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1220
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GFK
Destination City Grand Forks
Destination State ND
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 24 2009 9:46AM
User who most recently changed record galm
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 8794
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --