Narrative:

Departed in VMC conditions; light rain; visibility approximately 5SM; takeoff power; flaps 11; bleeds on. At approximately 1000 feet AGL on the climbout southbound; sterile cockpit procedures were interrupted by cabin interphone chime. Nfp answered the interphone and was informed by one of the flight attendants that there was visible smoke in the cabin and the right aft lavatory smoke detector was sounding. First officer and myself both smelled faint fumes but there was no visible smoke in the cockpit. I made the decision to immediately declare emergency upon initial check in with departure. First officer advised departure that we were requesting vectors to a visual approach. We requested and climbed to 2000 MSL in VMC conditions and entered the downwind leg maintaining visual with the runway. We maintained approximately 180 KIAS at flaps 11. On the downwind; first officer and I concurred smoke goggles and O2 masks were not necessary at that time. First officer executed the return checklist. On the base leg first officer checked in with the cabin crew and was informed the smoke had begun to clear and the condition was returning to normal. We instructed the cabin crew to prepare for evacuation on runway; but it was unlikely we would need to evacuate. I touched down flaps 40 at 133;500 pounds. We exceeded the mlw by 3500 pounds (md-82 limitation). The touchdown was soft and roll out was 5000-6000 ft with idle reverse thrust. Parking brakes were set and I gave the command 'please remain seated'. First officer maintained dialog with ATC and arff as they inspected the plane. I monitored him and communicated with the flight attendants. We determined evacuation was not necessary. I briefed the passengers via PA as to what just occurred and what the plan going forward was. We proceeded under engine power with arff escort to the gate. Arff boarded from the aft stairs and passengers were deplaned through the L1 door using normal embark/debark procedures. Two write ups in the aircraft logbook were made: 1. For cabin smoke and 1. For overweight landing. Crew and passengers were switched to new aircraft for continuation of flight. No immediate defects were noted by maintenance personnel.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD82 Captain is informed of smoke in the cabin shortly after takeoff. An emergency is declared and the crew returns to their departure airport for an overweight landing; smoke dissipates significantly during the return.

Narrative: Departed in VMC conditions; Light Rain; Visibility approximately 5SM; Takeoff Power; Flaps 11; Bleeds ON. At approximately 1000 Feet AGL on the climbout southbound; Sterile Cockpit procedures were interrupted by Cabin Interphone Chime. NFP answered the Interphone and was informed by one of the Flight Attendants that there was visible smoke in the cabin and the R AFT lavatory smoke detector was sounding. First Officer and myself both smelled faint fumes but there was no visible smoke in the cockpit. I made the decision to immediately declare emergency upon initial check in with Departure. First Officer advised departure that we were requesting vectors to a visual approach. We requested and climbed to 2000 MSL in VMC conditions and entered the downwind leg maintaining visual with the runway. We maintained approximately 180 KIAS at Flaps 11. On the Downwind; First Officer and I concurred Smoke Goggles and O2 masks were not necessary at that time. First Officer executed the Return Checklist. On the base leg First Officer checked in with the Cabin Crew and was informed the smoke had begun to clear and the condition was returning to normal. We instructed the Cabin Crew to prepare for evacuation on runway; but it was UNLIKELY we would need to evacuate. I touched down flaps 40 at 133;500 pounds. We exceeded the MLW by 3500 LBS (MD-82 Limitation). The touchdown was soft and roll out was 5000-6000 FT with idle reverse thrust. Parking Brakes were set and I gave the command 'Please remain Seated'. First Officer maintained dialog with ATC and ARFF as they inspected the plane. I monitored him and communicated with the Flight Attendants. We determined EVACUATION was not necessary. I briefed the passengers via PA as to what just occurred and what the plan going forward was. We proceeded under Engine Power with ARFF escort to the gate. ARFF Boarded from the Aft Stairs and Passengers were deplaned through the L1 door using normal embark/debark procedures. Two Write ups in the Aircraft Logbook were made: 1. for Cabin Smoke and 1. for Overweight Landing. Crew and Passengers were switched to new aircraft for continuation of flight. No immediate Defects were noted by maintenance personnel.

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.