Cessna Aircraft Co 162 N6047W accident near Dunkirk, New York

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while attempting to close an open cabin door, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of the light sport airplane had completed two touch-and-go takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern. During the third takeoff, the right door opened at an altitude about 400 ft above ground level. Seated in the left seat, the pilot attempted to reach across the cockpit and close the door, but could not reach the handle. He stated that the airplane "did not want to fly," and "began to sink" before it impacted trees. A witness stated that the airplane was in an "aggressive" nose-up attitude just before impact.

Postaccident examination of the airplane, including the right door latch, revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's operating handbook for the airplane stated that, in the event of a door opening in flight, the pilot should not attempt to close the door and should land normally as soon as practical. It is likely that the pilot became distracted by the open door during flight, and, in his attempt to close the door at low altitude, the airplane became too slow, exceeded its critical angle of attack, and experienced an aerodynamic stall.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA15LA269 for the full record.