Vans RV-10 | N8757R

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot took off from runway 24, and declared to ATC “RV 57 Romeo -immediate landing required.” and was given priority for an opposite direction runway 06 landing by local ATC. The left hand gull wing door had come open and the pilot was sitting in the left seat. The pilot continued on a left downwind for runway 24, but was clearly given the option for either runway, 06 or 24, with winds reported calm. The pilot then extended his downwind leg and turned a very sharp base to final turn, whereupon the door departed the plane, then the aircraft stalled, spun, and exploded in the top of a local warehouse located 1216 feet short of the runway, and 36 feet to the southwest of the extended centerline of the runway. The left hand door was found not attached to the aircraft at the crash location, confirming that the left door inadvertently opened after takeoff, and the pilot became distracted by the condition. The pilot mishandled the open door abnormal, and passed up numerous other options for landing opposite direction, and became focused on the runway, neglecting pitch and speed awareness.

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft rehearse and become conditioned to the numerous AQP scenarios which can cause pilots to become distracted and mishandle the abnormal in the instant that it is presented. Particularly, the opening of a door, hatch, or baggage door in flight.