What happened
During the cruise phase of flight, the aft cargo door of the aircraft became unlatched and opened while in flight. In response to this structural failure, the pilot initiated an emergency procedure by shutting down the right engine. While attempting to execute an emergency landing, the aircraft struck power cables and poles. The impact resulted in a crash that caused the aircraft to be destroyed beyond repair. The pilot sustained slight injuries during the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical contributing factors regarding the state of the aircraft and the crew's actions. The primary cause was determined to be a collision with wires and poles during the final approach, which followed insufficient preflight preparations. Other significant issues noted during the investigation included:
- The aft cargo door was not properly secured prior to flight
- Inadequate pilot response to the emergency situation
- Difficulties maintaining lateral control of the aircraft
- Failure to maintain a safe altitude during the descent
- The necessity of performing a forced landing on terrain away from an established airport