Narrative:

After takeoff, during climb out, approximately 3000 ft, we noticed a strong smell of something burning in the cockpit. As we discussed this, we received several chimes from the flight attendant call. The first officer talked to the 'a' flight attendant who said that there was smoke in the cabin. I (captain flying) told the first officer to declare an emergency and to get back to the airport immediately. We were approximately 10 mi out, and I leveled off at 6000 ft. After receiving vectors to return, I accelerated to approximately 290 KTS with speed brakes out during the turn to get back down rapidly and requested runway 6 (with ILS) to land. We had just departed runway 24. We proceeded with all approach and landing checklists, requested emergency equipment and landed uneventfully. I stopped in front of the emergency trucks at the high speed exit and talked to them. There was no outside fires. The flight attendant reported to us that there was no smoke in the cabin any more. I opted to taxi to the gate and get the passenger off the airplane. The fire/rescue then proceeded to check the aircraft inside and out to check for fire or smoke. Nothing was found except that the smell came back on the ground again inside the aircraft. After talking to the chief pilot, I removed myself and the copilot from the flight, as we were very nervous and stressed out, and felt we could not fly any other aircraft that night (for safety reasons) and state of mind. Subsequently maintenance started checking the aircraft, but I have no knowledge of what they found.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW RETURN LAND AFTER DETECTING SMOKE IN COCKPIT IN RSW AIRSPACE.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF, DURING CLBOUT, APPROX 3000 FT, WE NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING IN THE COCKPIT. AS WE DISCUSSED THIS, WE RECEIVED SEVERAL CHIMES FROM THE FLT ATTENDANT CALL. THE FO TALKED TO THE 'A' FLT ATTENDANT WHO SAID THAT THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE CABIN. I (CAPT FLYING) TOLD THE FO TO DECLARE AN EMER AND TO GET BACK TO THE ARPT IMMEDIATELY. WE WERE APPROX 10 MI OUT, AND I LEVELED OFF AT 6000 FT. AFTER RECEIVING VECTORS TO RETURN, I ACCELERATED TO APPROX 290 KTS WITH SPD BRAKES OUT DURING THE TURN TO GET BACK DOWN RAPIDLY AND REQUESTED RWY 6 (WITH ILS) TO LAND. WE HAD JUST DEPARTED RWY 24. WE PROCEEDED WITH ALL APCH AND LNDG CHKLISTS, REQUESTED EMER EQUIP AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. I STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE EMER TRUCKS AT THE HIGH SPD EXIT AND TALKED TO THEM. THERE WAS NO OUTSIDE FIRES. THE FLT ATTENDANT RPTED TO US THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE IN THE CABIN ANY MORE. I OPTED TO TAXI TO THE GATE AND GET THE PAX OFF THE AIRPLANE. THE FIRE/RESCUE THEN PROCEEDED TO CHK THE ACFT INSIDE AND OUT TO CHK FOR FIRE OR SMOKE. NOTHING WAS FOUND EXCEPT THAT THE SMELL CAME BACK ON THE GND AGAIN INSIDE THE ACFT. AFTER TALKING TO THE CHIEF PLT, I REMOVED MYSELF AND THE COPLT FROM THE FLT, AS WE WERE VERY NERVOUS AND STRESSED OUT, AND FELT WE COULD NOT FLY ANY OTHER ACFT THAT NIGHT (FOR SAFETY REASONS) AND STATE OF MIND. SUBSEQUENTLY MAINT STARTED CHKING THE ACFT, BUT I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THEY FOUND.

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.