BE58 has door pop open at cruise on IFR flight plan. Divert land.

Attributes
ACN	331917
Time
Date	199603
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : clt
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : clt
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Baron 58/58TC
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 2600
ASRS Report	331917
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Departed clt in IMC. On top approximately 1500 ft. Leveling at 4000 ft, door on B58 baron opened. I knew there were VMC to the north. I elected to proceed to VMC and land. I communicated my situation to approach as soon as possible. They were most helpful. Statesville, nc, airport was cavu. Landing was uneventful. After closing the door we proceeded on our flight to lck. I had executed the standard procedure for closing door on baron and checking to see that it is closed correctly. This was as on my checklist for before engine start. Rotate handle to left (counterclockwise) until 'locked' then check for some 'play' in handle. Also 'bump' upper, rear of door. As stated, all checked well. Lesson -- fly the airplane!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE58 HAS DOOR POP OPEN AT CRUISE ON IFR FLT PLAN. DIVERT LAND.

Narrative: DEPARTED CLT IN IMC. ON TOP APPROX 1500 FT. LEVELING AT 4000 FT, DOOR ON B58 BARON OPENED. I KNEW THERE WERE VMC TO THE N. I ELECTED TO PROCEED TO VMC AND LAND. I COMMUNICATED MY SIT TO APCH ASAP. THEY WERE MOST HELPFUL. STATESVILLE, NC, ARPT WAS CAVU. LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL. AFTER CLOSING THE DOOR WE PROCEEDED ON OUR FLT TO LCK. I HAD EXECUTED THE STANDARD PROC FOR CLOSING DOOR ON BARON AND CHKING TO SEE THAT IT IS CLOSED CORRECTLY. THIS WAS AS ON MY CHKLIST FOR BEFORE ENG START. ROTATE HANDLE TO L (COUNTERCLOCKWISE) UNTIL 'LOCKED' THEN CHK FOR SOME 'PLAY' IN HANDLE. ALSO 'BUMP' UPPER, REAR OF DOOR. AS STATED, ALL CHKED WELL. LESSON -- FLY THE AIRPLANE!

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.