Narrative:

At FL340; we heard the 'cabin altitude' verbal/audible warnings along with the red cabin altitude overhead annunciator light and the master warning annunciator. The cabin altitude gauge was showing 10;000 ft MSL and climbing slowly. An emergency was declared with center; cabin altitude warning memory items accomplished and emergency descent initiated. During emergency descent; the cabin altitude began descending. Center advised the minimum vectoring altitude in our area was 16;000 ft MSL. Airplane was leveled at 16;000 ft MSL with the cabin altitude continuing to descend. With the cabin altitude now at 6000 ft MSL and still descending; the captain terminated the emergency with center and advised we were able to continue to our destination. After safely level at 16;000 ft MSL; the captain contacted the flight attendants and discussed the situation. Since the seatbelt sign was on; no passengers were up or possibly injured. The flight attendants reported everything normal and the oxygen masks did not deploy. The captain then made a PA to the passengers advising them of a pressurization issue and the flight will continue normally. The maximum cabin altitude observed was 11;000 ft MSL. The pressurization controller displayed 'transfer lockout' and 'stdby on' the remainder of the flight while the cabin continued to descend. Both packs showed normal flow and appeared to operate normally. At FL340 sky was clear and no clouds in the area. Remainder of the flight continued to landing with pressurization normal.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An MD80's pressurization malfunctioned at FL340 causing a cabin pressurization warning. The aircraft was descended; an emergency declared and the checklist completed. At 16;000 FT cabin control was regained; emergency terminated and the flight continued to its destination.

Narrative: At FL340; we heard the 'CABIN ALTITUDE' verbal/audible warnings along with the red CABIN ALT overhead annunciator light and the MASTER WARNING annunciator. The cabin altitude gauge was showing 10;000 FT MSL and climbing slowly. An emergency was declared with Center; cabin Altitude Warning memory items accomplished and emergency descent initiated. During emergency descent; the cabin altitude began descending. Center advised the minimum vectoring altitude in our area was 16;000 FT MSL. Airplane was leveled at 16;000 FT MSL with the cabin altitude continuing to descend. With the cabin altitude now at 6000 FT MSL and still descending; the Captain terminated the emergency with Center and advised we were able to continue to our destination. After safely level at 16;000 FT MSL; the Captain contacted the Flight Attendants and discussed the situation. Since the seatbelt sign was on; no passengers were up or possibly injured. The Flight Attendants reported everything normal and the oxygen masks did not deploy. The Captain then made a PA to the passengers advising them of a pressurization issue and the flight will continue normally. The maximum cabin altitude observed was 11;000 FT MSL. The pressurization controller displayed 'TRANSFER LOCKOUT' and 'STDBY ON' the remainder of the flight while the cabin continued to descend. Both packs showed normal flow and appeared to operate normally. At FL340 sky was clear and no clouds in the area. Remainder of the flight continued to landing with pressurization normal.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.