Raytheon Aircraft Company B300 accident near Melbourne, Florida, May 26, 2023
On May 26, 2023 at about 1:58 pm local time, a 2006 Raytheon Aircraft Company B300, registered N680CB, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Melbourne, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inflight separation of the airplane’s airstair door for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2023 · about 1:58 pm local time
- Place
- Melbourne, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raytheon Aircraft Company B300, built 2006
- Registration
- N680CB · no longer on the register · serial FL-499
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the multiengine turboprop airplane was flying over the ocean at FL340 when he heard an “explosion.” He quickly donned his oxygen mask, declared an emergency with air traffic control, and descended to 12,000 ft. The pilot subsequently diverted the flight and landed the airplane uneventfully. After landing he observed that the airstair door had completely separated from the fuselage. The inflight separation of the airstair door and resulting depressurization of the airplane’s cabin constituted substantial damage to the airframe. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that portions of the airstair door hinges remained attached to the fuselage, the airstair door handle anchor had failed, and the door damper support was bent and its upper bolt sheared. The six door plate strikers on the fuselage were undamaged. The airstair door was not recovered and the condition of its securing mechanisms could not be examined. Given this information, the reason for the inflight separation of the door could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Part(s) separation from AC during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,127 hours in all; 835 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 11,127 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 14, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,604 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 16,500 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W PT6A-67A (turboprop); 1,276 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W PT6A-67A (turboprop); 1,276 hours total
- Operator: Dalks Leasing INC
The flight
- Departed from: MYAT Treasure Cay OF at 12:45 pm
- Destination: GSP Greer SC
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from MLB
Weather report (METAR): KMLB 261353Z 31005KT 10SM CLR 26/21 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP100 T02560211
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA23LA248.