Ed set the example by pointing out contributing factors in his ‘incident’, and for the sake off completeness I should do likewise.

 

We were planning on being wheels up by 8:00 am; and making the roughly 7 ½ hr flying time to Austin that day.  But the airport was socked in with unusually heavy marine layer – 400 ft ceiling.  This generally breaks up pretty early 20 miles inland at F70.  We waited, and waited, looking at the sky; no change. Finally, and rather suddenly we saw breaks in the clouds.  At 10:15 I decided we were good to go; we strapped in, and headed out. Still some low clouds in the direction of takeoff, but I saw we could be off, make a 180 and climb. 

 

IF the cause was that the door latch was not fully engaged it was because I was impatient to get going; not thorough on the pre-takeoff checklist.  Hey, I had closed and latched that door 100 times – of course it was fully latched.

 

Don’t ever be in a hurry when you are going flying. Don’t ever be in a hurry when you are going flying.

 

Al G