What happened
On the morning of the accident, a twin-engine cargo flight, identified as WIG1046, departed from Runway 06 at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport at 0710LT, bound for Presque Isle. At the time of takeoff, meteorological conditions were characterized by rain and mist, with visibility limited to 3 miles and cloud ceilings at 1,000 and 2,400 feet.
During the early stages of the climb, the pilot experienced a sudden loud noise. Upon investigation, the pilot observed that the left hatch or door was partially unlatched. While attempting to secure the door manually, the pilot sustained an injury to his left hand as the door swung fully open. As the pilot attempted to hold the door in place with both hands, the force of the airflow began to pull him from his seat. To avoid being ejected, the pilot released his grip, at which point the door became completely detached from the aircraft.
Following the loss of the door, the aircraft entered several unusual flight attitudes. The pilot attempted to maneuver the plane back toward the departure airport, but the flight became uncontrollable. Approximately 16 minutes after the initial departure, the aircraft entered a right turn and impacted a wooded area near Londonderry, roughly 8 km south of the airport. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and serious injuries to the pilot. Investigators later located the cockpit door 16 km away from the primary wreckage site.
Findings
- The separation of the cockpit door during the initial climb phase was the primary event leading to the loss of control.