B737-400 flight crew experiences loss of pressurization. Emergency descent and diversion result.

Attributes
ACN	335580
Time
Date	199605
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sav
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	335580
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	335154
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Loss of cabin pressure required emergency descent from FL310. Notified ATC of emergency and required descent. Center tried to level us at FL220 for traffic below. We told them we couldn't level, needed lower (10000 ft) and in an emergency situation. We asked ATC to turn us (to avoid conflict). They said traffic below us was too slow and couldn't get out of the way. We repeated that we wanted to turn to clear. They responded with a heading (I think) and said I must use my emergency authority/authorized to continue descent. I did, we did so then ATC then tried to give us a frequency change. As we passed 14000 ft on way to our requested 10000 ft, ATC repeatedly asked us if we would level at 11000 ft and it would be easier for them to handle the situation. We need 10000 ft for crew oxygen requirements. By then we had decided to go into sav and continued our descent to an uneventful landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-400 FLC EXPERIENCES LOSS OF PRESSURIZATION. EMER DSCNT AND DIVERSION RESULT.

Narrative: LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURE REQUIRED EMER DSCNT FROM FL310. NOTIFIED ATC OF EMER AND REQUIRED DSCNT. CTR TRIED TO LEVEL US AT FL220 FOR TFC BELOW. WE TOLD THEM WE COULDN'T LEVEL, NEEDED LOWER (10000 FT) AND IN AN EMER SIT. WE ASKED ATC TO TURN US (TO AVOID CONFLICT). THEY SAID TFC BELOW US WAS TOO SLOW AND COULDN'T GET OUT OF THE WAY. WE REPEATED THAT WE WANTED TO TURN TO CLR. THEY RESPONDED WITH A HDG (I THINK) AND SAID I MUST USE MY EMER AUTH TO CONTINUE DSCNT. I DID, WE DID SO THEN ATC THEN TRIED TO GIVE US A FREQ CHANGE. AS WE PASSED 14000 FT ON WAY TO OUR REQUESTED 10000 FT, ATC REPEATEDLY ASKED US IF WE WOULD LEVEL AT 11000 FT AND IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR THEM TO HANDLE THE SIT. WE NEED 10000 FT FOR CREW OXYGEN REQUIREMENTS. BY THEN WE HAD DECIDED TO GO INTO SAV AND CONTINUED OUR DSCNT TO AN UNEVENTFUL 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.