On January 23, 1992, a Piper PA-30 (registration N8662Y) operated by Smith, James A. was involved in an aviation accident near Pacoima, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to abort the takeoff with insufficient runway remaining, following the in-flight opening of a nose baggage door whose locking mechanism was found to be only partially engaged. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot aborted takeoff after the baggage door opened, but lacked runway remaining. The aircraft was steered off the left side to avoid a wall.
What happened
During the takeoff roll, the baggage door of the aircraft unexpectedly came open. Recognizing the situation, the pilot elected to abort the takeoff. However, the remaining runway length was insufficient to bring the airplane to a stop on the paved surface. To avoid colliding with a stone wall located at the end of the runway, the pilot intentionally steered the aircraft off the left side of the runway.
The investigation
An examination of the nose baggage door disclosed that its locking mechanism was only partially engaged. This mechanical failure was identified as the primary reason for the door opening during the high-speed ground roll.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to abort the takeoff with insufficient runway remaining, following the in-flight opening of a nose baggage door whose locking mechanism was found to be only partially engaged.