What happened
On September 7, 2019, a Beechcraft C24R, registration N24030, was involved in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada. The aircraft was operating as a Part 91 cross-country instructional flight.
An eyewitness at the north end of Henderson Executive Airport (HND) observed the aircraft performing a run-up with the right entry door open. The witness noted the engine sounded normal and that the door was closed before the aircraft received takeoff clearance. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft used approximately 50% power before applying full power.
Shortly after liftoff, the aircraft climbed to between 5 and 100 feet above ground level (agl) but struggled to maintain altitude, oscillating between climbing and descending. The pilot contacted air traffic control to report that a door had opened and requested to return to the airport. After being cleared to enter closed traffic, the aircraft climbed an additional 50 to 100 feet, entered a left turn, and subsequently entered a nose-down left bank before impacting the terrain.
The accident resulted in 2 fatal injuries and 2 serious injuries.
Earlier that day, the aircraft had performed a flight that was aborted because the crew could not climb over nearby mountains. At the time of the accident, the temperature was 34°C with a density altitude of approximately 5,437 feet MSL.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found the aircraft had impacted a divided roadway and slid through a steel barrier fence into a culvert drainage area. The empennage had separated from the main wreckage, and a post-impact fire consumed much of the cabin, wings, and fuel tanks. While the latch assemblies for the doors were found in the engaged position, the strike plates for the two entry doors were missing.
Mechanical examination of the engine and propeller blades showed no evidence of pre-impact malfunctions. The propeller was likely operating near high RPM at the time of impact.
Weight and balance calculations determined the aircraft's total weight, including fuel, tools, and four occupants, was approximately 2,835 lbs. This exceeded the aircraft's maximum gross takeoff weight of 2,750 lbs. Additionally, the aircraft was loaded aft of the center of gravity (CG) limits for both flights that day.