Fort Worth - San Antonio

The commercial pilot was distracted by the nose cargo door popping open during takeoff; the airplane stalled and collided with trees off the end of the runway. The pilot said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane or engines and that he was fixated on the cargo door and lost control of the airplane. He also said that due to stress, he was not mentally prepared to handle the emergency situation.

Flight / Schedule

Fort Worth - San Antonio

Registration

N69924

MSN

421B-0553

Year of Manufacture

1973

Operator

John Campbell

Date

September 5, 2012 at 09:49 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Private

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Fort Worth-Spinks Texas

Region

North America • United States of America

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On September 5, 2012 at 09:49 AM, Fort Worth - San Antonio experienced a crash involving Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II, operated by John Campbell, with the event recorded near Fort Worth-Spinks Texas.

The flight was categorized as private and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The commercial pilot was distracted by the nose cargo door popping open during takeoff; the airplane stalled and collided with trees off the end of the runway. The pilot said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane or engines and that he was fixated on the cargo door and lost control of the airplane. He also said that due to stress, he was not mentally prepared to handle the emergency situation.

Aircraft reference details include registration N69924, MSN 421B-0553, year of manufacture 1973.

Fatalities

Total

0

Crew

0

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The commercial pilot was distracted by the nose cargo door popping open during takeoff; the airplane stalled and collided with trees off the end of the runway. The pilot said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane or engines and that he was fixated on the cargo door and lost control of the airplane. He also said that due to stress, he was not mentally prepared to handle the emergency situation.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

2

Fatality Rate

0.0%

Known people on board: 2

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Fort Worth - San Antonio

Operator

John Campbell

Flight Type

Private

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Registration

N69924

MSN

421B-0553

Year of Manufacture

1973