What happened
Shortly after departing from runway 16, the forward baggage door of the aircraft opened. The flight occurred during windy conditions, with winds recorded at 210 degrees at 13 knots and gusts up to 21 knots. Following the opening of the door, the pilot attempted to return to the airport. During this maneuver, the airplane struck trees and subsequently descended into a river.
Passengers on board reported that the aircraft was at a low altitude and noted that the wings were rocking left and right just prior to the accident. Additionally, passengers reported hearing a buzzer sounding before the impact.
The investigation
Post-accident inspection of the baggage door latch revealed that it was in the latched position. Investigators found no mechanical failure of the latch that would have caused it to open during the flight. One passenger noted that while they believed the baggage door was latched, it had not been locked prior to takeoff.