N48TA

On January 8, 2004, about 1430 central standard time, a Beech E-90, N48TA, operated by Tidewater Aero, sustained substantial damage when the cabin door opened in-flight and impacted the empennage during climb out near Galesburg, Illinois. The non-scheduled domestic passenger flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 135. Visual metrological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was on file. The airline transport pilot and his six passengers reported no injuries. The flight originated at the Galesburg Municipal Airport (GBG), near Galesburg, Illinois, about 1425, and was destined for Mountain Empire Airport, near Marion, Virginia.

The accident report, signed by the pilot, stated:

At 1415 CST N48TA was loaded with one pilot, [pilot's name],

PIC [pilot-in-command], for Tidewater Aero, two Virginia Beach

(VA BCH) police officers, and [four] prisoners, being returned

to VA BCH. The PIC was among the first aboard. A VA BCH

police officer closed the aircraft door, while the PIC was in the

cockpit. The door was not verified to be closed properly by

the PIC. At 1425 CST, the aircraft departed [runway] 21 at GBG

and started a climbing left turn. At approximately 2000 [feet]

MSL, the "Cabin Door" annunciator light came on. At that point

the PIC turned the aircraft further left to return to GBG for landing.

Power was reduced, and the climb stopped. At [approximately]

1430 CST, 2 [miles southeast] of GBG, the door separated from

the aircraft. ... Witness sitting at the side facing seat-opposite from

the door said he could hear loud "air" noise coming from the door

before it separated. Aircraft was in a left turn when the door

separated. Upon returning to GBG, ground crew brought a ladder

to unload passengers without incident.

That report stated that "no one on board or on the ground was injured" and it listed no mechanical malfunctions in reference to the flight.