NTSB Factual Report

On August 17, 2002, about 1200 mountain daylight time, a Beech C-35, N1888D, sustained substantial damage subsequent to a hard landing at Nampa Municipal Airport, Nampa, Idaho. The commercial pilot and one passenger received minor injuries, a second passenger received serious injures and the third passenger was not injured. The airplane was owned by the pilot, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) pleasure flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. There was no fire and no report of ELT activation.

In a written statement dated August 25, the pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, approximately 50 feet above ground level (AGL), the airplane's storm window opened and he aborted the initial climb in an effort to land on the remaining runway. He further stated that during the descent to land he was unable to control the aircraft's sink rate resulting in a hard landing.

The pilot was conducting an orientation flight in support of the Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) Young Eagles program. EAA Chapter 103, Nampa, Idaho, organized the event.

The pilot stated that he hadn't experienced any mechanical difficulties or malfunctions with the airplane that may have contributed to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control following an inadvertent opening of the airplane's storm window.