Plane crash horror as door burst open mid-flight and pilots couldn’t close it
A plane crashed into a hedge after the main door opened just 10 minutes into a training flight.
The 49-year-old instructor was undertaking her first trial lesson with a student when the door of the Piper PA-28-180 fixed-wing single-engine aircraft started to open.
The instructor made several failed attempts to close it to no avail, North Wales Live reports.
The plane, which was being flown by the student began losing altitude around 150m from the runway and struck a hedge at Mid Wales Airport, Welshpool, Powys just after 10.30am on July 9, 2021.
The instructor and student were uninjured but "substantial damage" was caused to the landing gear and propeller.
A report by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) states: "The instructor was undertaking her first instructional flight, a trial lesson with a planned landaway at Mid-Wales Airport, Welshpool.
"Approximately 10 minutes into the flight, with the student flying, the main door started to open.
"The instructor made a few unsuccessful attempts to close it and then decided to continue to Welshpool as they understood the departure airfield was busy.
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"A straight-in approach was requested, and the instructor explained the approach procedure to the student.
"The aircraft was lined up with the runway centreline with the flaps extended and was stable at 67 kt. The student flew the approach with the instructor following through on the controls whilst holding the door closed."
The report adds: "The instructor reported, at approximately 150m from the runway the aircraft 'lost lift and dropped, losing altitude, full power was immediately applied and the aircraft was pitched-up, but it kept descending, making a go-around impossible'.
"The main landing gear stuck [sic] a hedge in the undershoot and detached. The aircraft came to rest about 200m from the hedge and beside the runway."
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The CAA Skyway Code highlights distraction, such as an open door, as a risk that can lead to a loss of control.
It states: "The most important message is to fly the aircraft."
The AAIB report said the Pilot’s Operating Handbook for the aircraft does not include a procedure for an open door in flight.
Later versions for similar aircraft do contain a procedure and operating advice which states: "A partially open door will not affect normal flight characteristics, and a normal landing can be made with the door open."
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