An air carrier medium large transport made an emergency descent after its windscreen cracked.

Attributes
ACN	246252
Time
Date	199307
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vuz airport : bhm
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 3200
ASRS Report	246252
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time total : 13000
ASRS Report	246358
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While at cruise at 35000 ft captain noticed crack and delamination developing in his pilot windshield. Crew decided to do emergency descent, notified ATC and turned left 30 degrees to leave jet route, descended to 10000 ft. Passenger were directed to be seated and flight attendants directed to secure their service very shortly after descent was started. Outer pane of windshield had multiple cracks in it, but it held for flight. Copilot flew aircraft for remainder of flight as a precaution, in event of a windshield failure. Had emergency rescue vehicles standing by for landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG MADE AN EMER DSCNT AFTER ITS WINDSCREEN CRACKED.

Narrative: WHILE AT CRUISE AT 35000 FT CAPT NOTICED CRACK AND DELAMINATION DEVELOPING IN HIS PLT WINDSHIELD. CREW DECIDED TO DO EMER DSCNT, NOTIFIED ATC AND TURNED L 30 DEGS TO LEAVE JET RTE, DSNDED TO 10000 FT. PAX WERE DIRECTED TO BE SEATED AND FLT ATTENDANTS DIRECTED TO SECURE THEIR SVC VERY SHORTLY AFTER DSCNT WAS STARTED. OUTER PANE OF WINDSHIELD HAD MULTIPLE CRACKS IN IT, BUT IT HELD FOR FLT. COPLT FLEW ACFT FOR REMAINDER OF FLT AS A PRECAUTION, IN EVENT OF A WINDSHIELD FAILURE. HAD EMER RESCUE VEHICLES STANDING BY FOR LNDG.

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.