'Are you gonna climb?'

The accident is the third of the year involving general aviation pilots who were apparently distracted by a relatively common event that should not create an emergency.

A Van's Aircraft RV–10 crashed in Fullerton, California, while attempting to return to the runway it had just departed on January 2 after a door opened on takeoff. A Beechcraft Bonanza crashed less than a minute after the pilot reported an open door during takeoff on March 9 in Pennsylvania.

The May 17 accident in Colorado appears to be nearly identical in many respects to the previous two open-door incidents. ADS-B data and air traffic control audio recorded by LiveATC.net show the Travel Air departed at 10 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time. The aircraft's shallow climb away from the runway, reaching a peak altitude of 5,895 feet msl, or 222 feet above the field elevation of 5,673 feet, prompted the tower to inquire: "Two-One-Zulu, are you gonna climb?" about 10 seconds after repeating the departure instruction.

The pilot, who died in the crash along with the lone passenger, responded, "Ah, we're gonna have to come back and re-land. We got the door popped open," followed by another transmission that was partially blocked by interference: "It's really hard … hear you, sir."

The aircraft, without climbing, otherwise followed a more-or-less standard traffic pattern, making a continuous right turn from the runway heading to a downwind orientation, though with speed decaying. Groundspeed recorded by ADS-B peaked around 146 mph just after takeoff, dropping to around 100 mph as the aircraft turned right from the upwind leg.

"Bonanza Four-Three-Two-One-Zulu, Metro Tower, if you can hear me, maneuver as needed, right downwind, Three Zero Right, you'll be number one, Three Zero Right, cleared to land. Let me know if you need a different runway," the controller said as the aircraft progressed through the turn—and then began to descend.

A few seconds later, the controller again called the low-flying aircraft:

"Bonanza Three-One-Two, uh Two-One-Zulu, [inaudible] maneuver as needed, any runway you need, any runway. Cleared, ah, cleared to land. Wind currently calm."

About 10 seconds before the final ADS-B transmission was recorded, the controller transmitted again as the low-flying aircraft approached the extended centerline of Runway 21:

"Runway Two One, Runway Two One, if you can make it, Runway Two One, cleared to land. Any runway you need."

Several of the final ADS-B returns indicate groundspeed dropping through 80 mph to as low as 30 mph, which would be consistent with a stall-spin scenario.

A few seconds later, the same controller advised aircraft outside of the airport's Class D to remain there until further advised.

Boulder County officials confirmed there were no survivors aboard the aircraft, which crashed in a field near the intersection of Brainard Drive and Midway Boulevard, just north of U.S. Highway 36, igniting a small grass fire that was quickly extinguished by responding firefighters. The FAA reported two people were on board. County officials did not immediately release their names.

The accident aircraft is an earlier version of the Beechcraft Baron, which, like most GA aircraft, can be flown more or less normally with an open door, as AOPA demonstrated in 2024. While the noise can be distracting, and aerodynamics make it difficult or impossible to close an open door in flight, safety experts have consistently said for years that pilots should ignore an open door, particularly when maneuvering at low altitude, and focus first on flying the airplane.