B737-500 suffers loss of cabin pressurization and makes emergency descent.

Attributes
ACN	798500
Time
Date	200808
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 34000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-500
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 232
ASRS Report	798500
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time type : 6500
ASRS Report	798501
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical cabin event : passenger illness
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : cabin alt warning other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Cabin Crew Human Performance Aircraft Passenger Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Shortly after leveloff; cruising at FL340; the cabin altitude warning horn sounded. The cabin altimeter indicated around 10000 ft and was climbing. We performed the cabin altitude warning checklist according to the QRH. The outflow valve indicated closed; but by then the cabin altimeter showed 11000 ft. We performed the emergency descent checklist according to the QRH; descending initially to 14000 ft; then to 10000 ft MSL; and eventually to 4000 ft. A passenger reported ear discomfort. We called for medical support upon our arrival. The medics talked to the passenger; who informed them she had a sinus infection. The 'C' flight attendant also had ear pain and was replaced upon landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-500 SUFFERS LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURIZATION AND MAKES EMERGENCY DESCENT.

Narrative: SHORTLY AFTER LEVELOFF; CRUISING AT FL340; THE CABIN ALT WARNING HORN SOUNDED. THE CABIN ALTIMETER INDICATED AROUND 10000 FT AND WAS CLBING. WE PERFORMED THE CABIN ALT WARNING CHKLIST ACCORDING TO THE QRH. THE OUTFLOW VALVE INDICATED CLOSED; BUT BY THEN THE CABIN ALTIMETER SHOWED 11000 FT. WE PERFORMED THE EMER DSCNT CHKLIST ACCORDING TO THE QRH; DSNDING INITIALLY TO 14000 FT; THEN TO 10000 FT MSL; AND EVENTUALLY TO 4000 FT. A PAX RPTED EAR DISCOMFORT. WE CALLED FOR MEDICAL SUPPORT UPON OUR ARR. THE MEDICS TALKED TO THE PAX; WHO INFORMED THEM SHE HAD A SINUS INFECTION. THE 'C' FLT ATTENDANT ALSO HAD EAR PAIN AND WAS REPLACED UPON LNDG.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.