Air taxi pilot declares an emergency and diverts to land after cargo door opens in-flight in ZFW air...

Attributes
ACN	431115
Time
Date	199903
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : adm.vortac
State Reference	OK
Altitude	msl single value : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence Ice
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 1650 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	431115
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : declared emergency
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Departed ict en route to dal. I was IFR at 9000 ft. When I was 35 mi northeast of ardmore, the top aft cargo door opened. I declared an emergency and requested vectors for the closest airport. At the time I was IMC, single pilot, in turbulence, picking up moderate ice. I felt that declaring an emergency was the best thing. I was scared the door might fly off and hit the tail. In the future I will be sure to doublechk the door.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AIR TAXI PLT DECLARES AN EMER AND DIVERTS TO LAND AFTER CARGO DOOR OPENS INFLT IN ZFW AIRSPACE.

Narrative: DEPARTED ICT ENRTE TO DAL. I WAS IFR AT 9000 FT. WHEN I WAS 35 MI NE OF ARDMORE, THE TOP AFT CARGO DOOR OPENED. I DECLARED AN EMER AND REQUESTED VECTORS FOR THE CLOSEST ARPT. AT THE TIME I WAS IMC, SINGLE PLT, IN TURB, PICKING UP MODERATE ICE. I FELT THAT DECLARING AN EMER WAS THE BEST THING. I WAS SCARED THE DOOR MIGHT FLY OFF AND HIT THE TAIL. IN THE FUTURE I WILL BE SURE TO DOUBLECHK THE DOOR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Air taxi pilot declares an emergency and diverts to land after cargo door opens in-flight in ZFW airspace.