Narrative:

Aircraft cabin pressure outflow valves malfunctioned, causing a rapid cabin pressure los at FL315. Sequence of events: we departed stl on a routine scheduled passenger flight to cmh. During climb to FL330 the cabin altitude started an uncontrollable climb as aircraft passed through FL315. F/east, using the appropriate emergency procedures, could not gain control of the cabin pressure. Cabin altitude eventually climbed above 14000' and passenger O2 and masks deployed. Captain took control of aircraft and commenced a rapid descent while first officer simultaneously advised ZID of the problem and requested descent to 10000'. Cockpit crew donned O2 masks and performed the appropriate emergency checklists. Clearance was initially given to FL290, while first officer kept requesting lower altitudes. Next ATC clearance was to FL190, and then finally to 11000'. During this time the aircraft descended through 2 'cleared to' altitudes before ATC could give us a lower altitude. We finally received clearance to ind, the nearest suitable airport, made a routine landing on runway 31. No passenger complaints and/or injuries. No crew complaints and/or injuries. No aircraft damage. Aircraft descended through 2 fl's before center could issue lower altitudes. During this type situation, either vectors and lower altitudes should be issued immediately.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT LOST PRESSURIZATION CONTROL CLIMBING THROUGH FL315. O2 MASKS DROPPED. ACFT DESCENDED THROUGH 2 ALTS BEFORE CLRNC WAS RECEIVED.

Narrative: ACFT CABIN PRESSURE OUTFLOW VALVES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING A RAPID CABIN PRESSURE LOS AT FL315. SEQUENCE OF EVENTS: WE DEPARTED STL ON A ROUTINE SCHEDULED PAX FLT TO CMH. DURING CLB TO FL330 THE CABIN ALT STARTED AN UNCONTROLLABLE CLB AS ACFT PASSED THROUGH FL315. F/E, USING THE APPROPRIATE EMER PROCS, COULD NOT GAIN CONTROL OF THE CABIN PRESSURE. CABIN ALT EVENTUALLY CLBED ABOVE 14000' AND PAX O2 AND MASKS DEPLOYED. CAPT TOOK CTL OF ACFT AND COMMENCED A RAPID DSCNT WHILE F/O SIMULTANEOUSLY ADVISED ZID OF THE PROB AND REQUESTED DSCNT TO 10000'. COCKPIT CREW DONNED O2 MASKS AND PERFORMED THE APPROPRIATE EMER CHKLISTS. CLRNC WAS INITIALLY GIVEN TO FL290, WHILE F/O KEPT REQUESTING LOWER ALTS. NEXT ATC CLRNC WAS TO FL190, AND THEN FINALLY TO 11000'. DURING THIS TIME THE ACFT DSNDED THROUGH 2 'CLRED TO' ALTS BEFORE ATC COULD GIVE US A LOWER ALT. WE FINALLY RECEIVED CLRNC TO IND, THE NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT, MADE A ROUTINE LNDG ON RWY 31. NO PAX COMPLAINTS AND/OR INJURIES. NO CREW COMPLAINTS AND/OR INJURIES. NO ACFT DAMAGE. ACFT DSNDED THROUGH 2 FL'S BEFORE CENTER COULD ISSUE LOWER ALTS. DURING THIS TYPE SITUATION, EITHER VECTORS AND LOWER ALTS SHOULD BE ISSUED IMMEDIATELY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.