Deadly Doors: Distractions Still Posing Threats to Pilots

Already in 2025, there have been four serious crashes in the U.S. where a door opened after takeoff.

Max Trescott

Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

So if you find yourself needing to return to the airport with an open door, if possible, fly a standard traffic pattern. [Courtesy: Max Trescott]

Key Takeaways:

Fatal general aviation accidents frequently result from pilots' panicked reactions to an unlatched door after takeoff, not the minor issue of the open door itself.
A common, dangerous reaction is for pilots to attempt quick, low-altitude returns to the airport, driven by anxiety to resolve the situation rapidly.
Flying traffic patterns at lower-than-normal altitudes distorts visual judgment, causing pilots to fly dangerously close to the runway and increasing the risk of overshooting turns.
This heightened risk can lead to unrecoverable stall/spin accidents at low altitudes; therefore, adhering to standard operating procedures and normal traffic patterns is crucial even in emergencies.

See a mistake? Contact us.

A door pops open just after takeoff. It’s annoying, sure—but deadly? It shouldn’t be. Yet general aviation pilots continue to crash and die because of how they react to something as simple as an unlatched door.

In just the first few months of 2025, we’ve had four serious crashes in the U.S. where a pilot experienced a door or baggage door opening after takeoff and didn’t make it back. Three of the four crashes were fatal, and the fourth one resulted in burn injuries. So, while it’s easy to dismiss these kinds of accidents, they’re important because they continue to kill.