GA light twin suffers rapid decompression.

Attributes
ACN	176268
Time
Date	199104
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gnv
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15500 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zjx
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 4875
ASRS Report	176268
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Cruising at 16000' and aircraft suffered rapid depressurization. Cabin altitude went from about 2000' to 16000' in a fraction of a second. Called center immediately, advised them of our problem and initiated descent. Received clearance for lower (11000') as we passed 15500'. We were in excellent VFR conditions at the time with no reported traffic and no conflict. I believe the disorienting effect of the depressurization and previous airline training calling for immediate descent caused me to initiate premature descent when it was not immediately necessary.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA LIGHT TWIN SUFFERS RAPID DECOMPRESSION.

Narrative: CRUISING AT 16000' AND ACFT SUFFERED RAPID DEPRESSURIZATION. CABIN ALT WENT FROM ABOUT 2000' TO 16000' IN A FRACTION OF A SEC. CALLED CTR IMMEDIATELY, ADVISED THEM OF OUR PROB AND INITIATED DSNT. RECEIVED CLRNC FOR LOWER (11000') AS WE PASSED 15500'. WE WERE IN EXCELLENT VFR CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WITH NO RPTED TFC AND NO CONFLICT. I BELIEVE THE DISORIENTING EFFECT OF THE DEPRESSURIZATION AND PREVIOUS AIRLINE TRNING CALLING FOR IMMEDIATE DSNT CAUSED ME TO INITIATE PREMATURE DSNT WHEN IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY NECESSARY.

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.