MD80S bos-dfw, makes emergency descent when pressurization fails.

Attributes
ACN	348649
Time
Date	199609
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : phl airport : ewr
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	348649
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Shortly after reaching cruise altitude of 31000 ft we noticed cabin altitude was climbing at 500 FPM. We coordinated a lower flight level with ATC while attempting to reverse the climbing cabin. Attempts were unsuccessful. Cabin climb rate increased. Declared emergency. Made emergency descent to 8000 ft AGL. Landed ewr. Uneventful landing at normal landing weight. Previous pressurization write-ups.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80S BOS-DFW, MAKES EMER DSCNT WHEN PRESSURIZATION FAILS.

Narrative: SHORTLY AFTER REACHING CRUISE ALT OF 31000 FT WE NOTICED CABIN ALT WAS CLBING AT 500 FPM. WE COORDINATED A LOWER FLT LEVEL WITH ATC WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE THE CLBING CABIN. ATTEMPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. CABIN CLB RATE INCREASED. DECLARED EMER. MADE EMER DSCNT TO 8000 FT AGL. LANDED EWR. UNEVENTFUL LNDG AT NORMAL LNDG WT. PREVIOUS PRESSURIZATION WRITE-UPS.

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.