HOME ON WEBSTER LAKE ROAD. IT DID CAUSE SOME MINOR DAMAGE TO A D-O-T FACILITY THAT IS ALSO ALONG THAT STRETCH OF ROAD. A PILOT SAID HE HEARD A POP MOMENTS BEFORE HIS PLANE FELL OUT OF THE SKY AND CRASHED IN LONDONDERRY, ACCORDING A NEW REPORT FROM THE N-T-S-B. WE'RE LEARNING MUCH MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED BOTH BEFORE AN AFTER THAT SCARY MOMENT. OUR KENDRA BRODDUS IS HERE TO EXPLAIN. THAT LOUD POP WAS LIKELY THE DOOR THAT LOOKED TO BE PARTIALLY OPEN. AT FIRST THE PILOT GRABBED ONTO THE DOOR… BUT EVENTUALLY IT BECAME TOO STRONG PULLING HIM OUT OF HIS SEAT SO HE LET GO. NOT LONG AFTER, THE DOOR COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF. NEW DETAILS FROM THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY BOARD SAY THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAKE SURE THE COCKPIT DOOR WAS SECURED BEFORE THE FLIGHT LED TO THE THE PLANE TOOK OFF FROM MANCHESTER- BOSTON REGIONAL AIRPORT ON JANUARY 26 2024 ON ITS WAY TO DELIVER PACKAGES IN MAINE. ACCORDING TO THAT REPORT THIS PORTABLE LADDER USED FOR THE PILOT TO GET INTO THE PLANE WAS NEVER BROUGHT INSIDE THE COCKPIT… DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB THE PILOT HEARD A POPPING SOUND. THE REPORT SAYS THE DOOR WAS PARTIALLY OPENED… THE PILOT TRIED HOLDING ONTO IT, INJURED HIS HAND AND EVENTUALLY LET GO. THE DOOR FLEW OFF MOMENTS LATER. FOR 16 MINUTES THE PLANE FLEW ERRATICALLY BEFORE CRASHING IN LONDONDERRY ABOUT 100 FEET FROM A SINGLE- FAMILY HOME. THE PLANE'S DOOR WAS FOUND TEN MILES NORTH IN MANCHESTER. THE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE CRASH AND COULDN'T TALK TO INVESTIGATORS FOR MONTHS. BUT WHEN THE PILOT WAS INTERVIEWED HE STATED THAT HE DID CHECK THAT THE PILOT DOOR WAS LATCHED. THE PILOT WAS THE ON
NTSB reports says door wasn't secured in 2024 Londonderry plane crash
Updated: 6:29 AM EDT Apr 25, 2026
The pilot of a plane that crashed in Londonderry in 2024 failed to ensure that the plane's cockpit door was secured before takeoff, according to an investigative report.The report from the National Transportation Safety Board said that the plane's door broke off, and the pilot lost control of the twin-engine Beechcraft 99.During the initial climb, the pilot heard a popping sound. The report said the door was partially open, and the pilot tried holding onto it, injured his hand, and eventually let go. Moments later, the door completely ripped off. For 16 minutes, the plane flew erratically before crashing about 100 feet from a single-family home in Londonderry. The plane's door was found 10 miles north in Manchester. The pilot, who was the only person on board, was seriously injured in the crash and was unable to speak with investigators for months. When interviewed, the pilot stated that he did check that the cockpit door was latched before the flight.
MANCHESTER, N.H. —
The pilot of a plane that crashed in Londonderry in 2024 failed to ensure that the plane's cockpit door was secured before takeoff, according to an investigative report.
The report from the National Transportation Safety Board said that the plane's door broke off, and the pilot lost control of the twin-engine Beechcraft 99.
During the initial climb, the pilot heard a popping sound. The report said the door was partially open, and the pilot tried holding onto it, injured his hand, and eventually let go. Moments later, the door completely ripped off.
For 16 minutes, the plane flew erratically before crashing about 100 feet from a single-family home in Londonderry. The plane's door was found 10 miles north in Manchester.
The pilot, who was the only person on board, was seriously injured in the crash and was unable to speak with investigators for months. When interviewed, the pilot stated that he did check that the cockpit door was latched before the flight.