Incident
Shortly after departing from Logan-Cache Airport, the aircraft experienced an event during its initial climb. The front left cargo door unexpectedly opened, separated from the aircraft, and struck the tail empennage. The pilot subsequently lost the ability to maintain safe control of the airplane. The aircraft crash-landed in an open field beyond the departure end of the runway.
Injuries
All seven occupants aboard the aircraft sustained injuries. One occupant was seriously injured; the remaining six suffered minor injuries.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause of the accident was the inadvertent opening of the front left cargo door during initial climb for an undetermined reason. The investigation reported several contributing factors: material failure and previous damage to the door components, a high density altitude of approximately 6,000 feet, and a broken support bar.