C208 pilot report passenger upper door opening during cruise flight at 6500 MSL.

Attributes
ACN	801767
Time
Date	200808
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Caravan 1 208A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	801767
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : declared emergency
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Company
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

In VFR cruise flight wbound at 6500 ft MSL; the top portion of the passenger door came open. I was flight following with center; performed the appropriate emergency procedure; informed them of the problem; declared an emergency; and landed at ZZZ airport. When I got on the ground; I called ATC; informed them I was ok; inspected the door -- found no damage; closed the door; took off; and returned to home base. Discussed with ground personnel the importance of insuring the door is properly latched and gave additional instruction on the proper way to close the door.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C208 PLT REPORT PAX UPPER DOOR OPENING DURING CRUISE FLT AT 6500 MSL.

Narrative: IN VFR CRUISE FLT WBOUND AT 6500 FT MSL; THE TOP PORTION OF THE PAX DOOR CAME OPEN. I WAS FLT FOLLOWING WITH CTR; PERFORMED THE APPROPRIATE EMER PROC; INFORMED THEM OF THE PROB; DECLARED AN EMER; AND LANDED AT ZZZ ARPT. WHEN I GOT ON THE GND; I CALLED ATC; INFORMED THEM I WAS OK; INSPECTED THE DOOR -- FOUND NO DAMAGE; CLOSED THE DOOR; TOOK OFF; AND RETURNED TO HOME BASE. DISCUSSED WITH GND PERSONNEL THE IMPORTANCE OF INSURING THE DOOR IS PROPERLY LATCHED AND GAVE ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION ON THE PROPER WAY TO CLOSE THE DOOR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.