What happened
During the refueling process, the second pilot placed multiple bags into the front left baggage compartment of the Cessna Citation. After fueling was finished, ground personnel observed the pilot closing the baggage door, but the door was not properly locked or latched.
As the aircraft departed from the 8,001-foot runway, witnesses near the midfield area noted the plane was airborne and the door appeared closed. However, observers near the runway's end reported that the aircraft was approximately 200 feet above ground level when the front left baggage door was seen standing upright and open. The aircraft was observed performing a slight left turn, leveling off, and flying at a low speed. Shortly after, the plane began to descend with visible wing rocking before entering a stall, breaking to the right, and striking the ground. The accident resulted in fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the airframe and engines revealed no mechanical issues that would have prevented standard operation. The design of the forward baggage doors utilizes two latches at the bottom and a key lock in the lower center. The key lock is considered unlocked when in a horizontal position and locked when vertical. Upon inspection of the wreckage, the front left baggage door was located within the debris field with mechanical and thermal damage, and its key lock was found in the horizontal position. The failure to properly latch the baggage door was the critical factor in the door opening during flight. While there are historical precedents of baggage doors opening on Cessna Citation aircraft, those instances did not always result in the door separating from the fuselage.