AN AIRBUS 300-600 IN CLB AT FL200 WAS ADVISED OF HAZARDOUS MATERIAL LOADED IMPROPERLY ON THE MAIN DECK.

Narrative

CLBING THROUGH FL200 ON A FLT FROM MEM TO ATL; CTR ADVISED US THAT COMPANY WAS TRYING TO CONTACT OUR FLT. WHEN WORKLOAD ALLOWED; COMPANY WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THAT ONE SHIPMENT (1 PIECE) OF OXIDIZER; A DANGEROUS GOODS ITEM; HAD BEEN LOADED ON THE MAIN DECK OF THE ACFT. THIS PIECE SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOADED IN THE DESIGNATED 'HAZMAT CAN.' COMPANY WANTED TO KNOW IF WE WERE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ATL OR RETURN TO MEM. IT WAS A MUTUAL CREW DECISION TO CONTINUE TO ATL FOR SEVERAL REASONS. FIRST; WHEN THE PROB WAS MADE KNOWN TO US; THE FLT WAS ALREADY HALF WAY TO ATL. SECOND; SHOULD WE HAVE RETURNED TO MEM AT THAT POINT; THE ACFT WOULD HAVE BEEN OVERWT FOR LNDG. (THERE IS NO FUEL-DUMP SYS ON THE A300- 600F; WE WERE FORECASTED TO LAND IN ATL AT MAX LNDG WT; AND NEEDED TO CONTINUE OUR CLB TO FL330 IN ORDER TO BURN ENOUGH GAS TO BE AT OR BELOW MAX LNDG WT AT ATL.) THIRD; A RETURN TO MEM DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE OUTBOUND 'LAUNCH' OF COMPANY ACFT WOULD SURELY INVOLVE EXTENSIVE DELAYS IN THE TAXI 'UP-STREAM' OF TFC TO THE COMPANY RAMP AREA. CONTINUING TO ATL WOULD GET THE MISLOADED DANGEROUS GOODS ITEM OFF THE ACFT IN THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME. THE FLT CONTINUED TO ATL WITH NO ABNORMALITIES. A FLC SAFETY RPT WAS COMPLETED AND FILED WITH THE COMPANY IN AN EFFORT TO HELP PREVENT THIS TYPE OF MISLOADING IN THE FUTURE.