Narrative:

The flying was normal and uneventful. Every seat was occupied; and there was also a cabin jumpseater; as well as a cockpit jumpseater. We were given a normal 'prepare for landing;' and the cabin was properly prepared. All flight attendants were in their appropriate jumpseats; when we began experiencing what might be described as moderate turbulence. There was roller coaster like dipping; which could cause nausea. There was only this up/down motion; but no side-to-side tipping. It was after experiencing this that the interphone rang; and all 3 flight attendants answered. The first officer told us that we had 'lost our trim' and needed to get the plane on the ground now. He said they were very busy. He said we were going to have an emergency landing in about 7 mins. He was asked if we were expecting to evacuate/evacuation and we were told no. We were told to prepare for a planned emergency landing. The #2 flight attendant had her manual out before I did; when I said; 'we have a full flight; there's nobody to move; we don't have time; and it's too dangerous to be up.' with much difficulty I navigated my way to the exit rows to do another visual inspection. I had initially briefed these people prior to departure; and at this inspection I found all seat backs still upright; and all luggage still properly stowed. As I was returning to my jumpseat the interphone rang. It was the #1 flight attendant asking us if we wanted to come to the front. I believed she was referencing the planned emergency checklist. I responded that there wasn't time. I'm sure the #2 flight attendant also responded but I don't remember what she said specifically. We touched down harder than usual; however there was no bouncing; tipping; lurching; or twisting. Overhead bins remained shut. Our speed was much faster than usual; and it was incredibly loud in the back. The sound was an intense rushing like sound; which I imagined was reverse thrust. The captain explained that we had stopped but were not at the gate; and everyone should remain seated with their seatbelts fastened.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CABIN ATTENDANT DETAILS AN EMER LNDG.

Narrative: THE FLYING WAS NORMAL AND UNEVENTFUL. EVERY SEAT WAS OCCUPIED; AND THERE WAS ALSO A CABIN JUMPSEATER; AS WELL AS A COCKPIT JUMPSEATER. WE WERE GIVEN A NORMAL 'PREPARE FOR LNDG;' AND THE CABIN WAS PROPERLY PREPARED. ALL FLT ATTENDANTS WERE IN THEIR APPROPRIATE JUMPSEATS; WHEN WE BEGAN EXPERIENCING WHAT MIGHT BE DESCRIBED AS MODERATE TURB. THERE WAS ROLLER COASTER LIKE DIPPING; WHICH COULD CAUSE NAUSEA. THERE WAS ONLY THIS UP/DOWN MOTION; BUT NO SIDE-TO-SIDE TIPPING. IT WAS AFTER EXPERIENCING THIS THAT THE INTERPHONE RANG; AND ALL 3 FLT ATTENDANTS ANSWERED. THE FO TOLD US THAT WE HAD 'LOST OUR TRIM' AND NEEDED TO GET THE PLANE ON THE GND NOW. HE SAID THEY WERE VERY BUSY. HE SAID WE WERE GOING TO HAVE AN EMER LNDG IN ABOUT 7 MINS. HE WAS ASKED IF WE WERE EXPECTING TO EVAC AND WE WERE TOLD NO. WE WERE TOLD TO PREPARE FOR A PLANNED EMER LNDG. THE #2 FLT ATTENDANT HAD HER MANUAL OUT BEFORE I DID; WHEN I SAID; 'WE HAVE A FULL FLT; THERE'S NOBODY TO MOVE; WE DON'T HAVE TIME; AND IT'S TOO DANGEROUS TO BE UP.' WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY I NAVIGATED MY WAY TO THE EXIT ROWS TO DO ANOTHER VISUAL INSPECTION. I HAD INITIALLY BRIEFED THESE PEOPLE PRIOR TO DEP; AND AT THIS INSPECTION I FOUND ALL SEAT BACKS STILL UPRIGHT; AND ALL LUGGAGE STILL PROPERLY STOWED. AS I WAS RETURNING TO MY JUMPSEAT THE INTERPHONE RANG. IT WAS THE #1 FLT ATTENDANT ASKING US IF WE WANTED TO COME TO THE FRONT. I BELIEVED SHE WAS REFING THE PLANNED EMER CHKLIST. I RESPONDED THAT THERE WASN'T TIME. I'M SURE THE #2 FLT ATTENDANT ALSO RESPONDED BUT I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT SHE SAID SPECIFICALLY. WE TOUCHED DOWN HARDER THAN USUAL; HOWEVER THERE WAS NO BOUNCING; TIPPING; LURCHING; OR TWISTING. OVERHEAD BINS REMAINED SHUT. OUR SPD WAS MUCH FASTER THAN USUAL; AND IT WAS INCREDIBLY LOUD IN THE BACK. THE SOUND WAS AN INTENSE RUSHING LIKE SOUND; WHICH I IMAGINED WAS REVERSE THRUST. THE CAPT EXPLAINED THAT WE HAD STOPPED BUT WERE NOT AT THE GATE; AND EVERYONE SHOULD REMAIN SEATED WITH THEIR SEATBELTS FASTENED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.