Incident Overview
Shortly after takeoff in gusty wind conditions, the forward baggage door of the aircraft opened. The pilot initiated a return to the airport, but during the maneuver, the airplane impacted trees and subsequently descended into a river.
Passenger Accounts
Passengers reported that just before the accident, the airplane was at a low altitude, the wings were rocking left and right, and a buzzer was sounding. One passenger stated that to his knowledge, the baggage door was latched but not locked prior to takeoff.
Post-Accident Inspection
An inspection of the baggage door latch after the accident revealed that it was in the latched position. No failure of the latch was noted that would have caused it to open during the flight.
Wind Conditions
The takeoff was performed on runway 16. Winds were reported from 210 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 21 knots.