What happened
The pilot was operating a flight for night currency when the incident occurred. Shortly after initiating takeoff, the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 20 feet above ground level (agl) when the rear cargo door unexpectedly opened. Despite this mechanical failure, the pilot maintained control and executed a landing on the remaining runway without further incident.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed substantial damage to the cargo door support assembly and the adjacent fuselage structure. This physical evidence indicated that the door had not been properly secured prior to flight.
Findings
The pilot stated that he had attempted to secure the cargo door before takeoff; however, he did not push it fully in or latch it correctly. This improper latching allowed the door to open under aerodynamic forces during the initial climb phase. The primary causal factor was improper preflight inspection resulting in an unsecured cargo door.
Safety message
Pilots must ensure all doors and panels are fully closed and positively latched before flight, especially during night operations where visual confirmation may be limited.