On April 19, 1985, a Piper PA-23-250 (registration N6984Y) was involved in an aviation accident near Miami, FL. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot allowed a passenger to close the cabin door and did not verify it; the door opened after gear retraction, and the passenger inadvertently forced the aircraft back to the runway while attempting to close it.
Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during a recent flight, he permitted a non-pilot passenger to close the cabin door before departure and did not personally check the door's security. Shortly after liftoff, the landing gear was retracted, and the cabin door popped open. The passenger, seated nearby, turned in his seat to close the door and inadvertently bumped the yoke, causing the aircraft to be forced back toward the runway.
Pilot's Account
The pilot stated that the accident could have been avoided if he had checked the cabin door himself and had not retracted the landing gear so soon after takeoff. No further details about the aircraft type, registration, location, or injuries were provided in the source.