What happened
On May 17, 2025, at approximately 10:03 mountain daylight time, a Beechcraft 95-B55, registration N4321Z, was destroyed in an accident near Broomfield, Colorado. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use. The aircraft departed runway 30R from Rocky Mountain Metro Airport (BJC) at approximately 10:00. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot notified the BJC control tower that a door had popped open and requested to return to the airport.
Air traffic control (ATC) instructed the pilot to follow right closed traffic for runway 30R. Radar and surveillance data indicated the aircraft ceased its climb at 6,024 feet mean sea level, approximately 400 feet above ground level, shortly after departing the runway end. While the aircraft was in the right traffic pattern, it began a continuous descent. During the transition from the right crosswind to the downwind leg, the aircraft's groundspeed decreased from 94 knots to 81 knots.
At 10:02:49, surveillance footage captured the aircraft with its landing gear extended entering a left bank. The roll rate increased until the aircraft was in an inverted, nose-low dive. The footage also showed what appeared to be an open door, which was consistent with the pilot's earlier radio transmission. The aircraft impacted a flat, open field approximately 1.5 nautical miles north of runway 30R. The impact occurred in a 90-degree left bank and nose-down attitude. The aircraft rotated 180 degrees counterclockwise upon impact and came to rest upright. The debris field measured approximately 85 feet in length and showed evidence of a post-accident fire.
There were 2 fatal injuries involving the pilot and a pilot-rated passenger.