"Gig 601XL Builder" wr.giacona@coxDOTnet wrote in message
news:kea7e.37$nh1.2@okepread03...
Here's my bet... The door came unlatched. the 2 cops sitting in the back
seat freaked and pushed someone into the yokes while they were trying to
close the door.

Might not have even required a push on the yoke. The dive might not have
been nearly as dramatic as the terrified passenger(s) describe (interesting
that the reports don't include any quotes from the pilot(s)), and a couple
of people rushing forward would be enough to adjust the trim to a descent.

I've had trim trouble just from a rear seat passenger reclining his seat.
An actual movement of two people within the cabin would cause a significant
change in pitch, in a small airplane like the one in this incident.

Whatever the cause, it's pretty clear that the door popping open was
certainly not a direct cause of the descent. Only panic could have caused
that. On whose part, we may never know.

Pete