Incident Details
A pilot reported an incident in which a front cargo door opened during takeoff, prompting an aborted takeoff that ended with the aircraft overrunning the runway and coming to rest in a canal. According to the pilot, he had just unloaded passengers at a fixed-base operator (FBO) and was returning to his home airport when the event occurred.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that he had been distracted during the unloading and pre-takeoff phases, and as a result, he neglected to latch the front cargo door. During takeoff, the forward nose cargo door opened. In response, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff. He noted that the runway was wet, and he opined that this condition caused the airplane to hydroplane, making it difficult to stop. The airplane overran the end of the runway, continued about 200 yards, collided with a fence, and finally came to rest in a canal.
The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine. No injuries or fatalities were mentioned in the report.