FlightFinder
Check my flight
No fatalities

Emergency Exit Detaches in Flight After Repainting (N910WT)

Tuscaloosa, AL, US

On June 29, 1992, a Cessna 402B (registration N910WT) operated by Jefferson Airplane, Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Tuscaloosa, AL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE EMERGENCY EXIT, BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON, WHICH RESULTED IN ITS SEPARATION, IN FLIGHT. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

An airplane experienced an emergency exit door departure during its first flight after repainting. The door struck the horizontal stabilizer but an uneventful landing was completed. Investigation revealed the exit had been mis-rigged.

Incident Overview

An airplane was flown for the first time following a repainting process. During the flight, after leveling off at cruise altitude, the pilot heard wind noise coming from the cabin and observed that the bottom of the emergency exit door was ajar. Shortly afterward, the door departed from the fuselage and struck the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer. Despite this, the pilot completed an uneventful landing.

Post-Flight Examination

Examination of the airplane revealed that the emergency exit had been mis-rigged. The investigation noted that during the last annual inspection, the seal for the upper cabin door was replaced, but there was no indication of any work performed on the emergency exit at that time. Additionally, the records for the recent repainting of the airplane did not reveal any work that would have required the removal of the emergency exit.

Structural failure

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 29 Jun 1992 Cessna 402B accident near Tuscaloosa, AL?

An airplane experienced an emergency exit door departure during its first flight after repainting. The door struck the horizontal stabilizer but an uneventful landing was completed. Investigation revealed the exit had been mis-rigged.

Were there any fatalities in the 29 Jun 1992 Cessna 402B accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 29 Jun 1992 involved a Cessna 402B, registration N910WT, operated by Jefferson Airplane, Inc, at Tuscaloosa, AL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE EMERGENCY EXIT, BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON, WHICH RESULTED IN ITS SEPARATION, IN FLIGHT.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X14782. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.