1974 Turkish Airlines Flight 981 Crash (TC-JAV)

On March 3, 1974, a DC-10 crashed in France after its aft cargo door opened in flight, killing all 346 occupants. The cause was an improperly latched door and design flaws.

Probable cause

The accident resulted from the in-flight ejection of the aft left-hand cargo door due to incorrect engagement of the door latching mechanism before take-off. Sudden depressurization disrupted the floor structure, ejected passengers and aircraft parts, rendered the No. 2 engine inoperative, and impaired flight controls, making it impossible for the crew to regain control. Contributing factors included incomplete application of Service Bulletin 52-37, incorrect modifications and adjustments, and the absence of a visual inspection through the viewport to verify lock pin engagement. Design flaws, including inadequate pressure relief vents and flight control cables routed beneath the floor, exacerbated the situation.