Background
Dan-Air Flight 240 was a scheduled night mail service operated by Dan Air Services Limited. The aircraft used was a Hawker Siddeley HS 748 series 2A, a turboprop-powered airliner. The flight's first stage was from London Gatwick Airport to East Midlands Airport. The aircraft was crewed by three individuals.
Accident
On 26 June 1981, while en route near the village of Nailstone in Leicestershire, the aircraft suffered a catastrophic event. The aircraft was completely destroyed in the crash, and all three persons on board lost their lives. The accident occurred during the night.
Cause
The destruction of the aircraft was the result of a major structural failure. This structural failure was directly caused by the failure of a cabin door. The door failure precipitated the breakup of the airframe, leading to the crash. The aircraft broke up in flight due to the structural failure.