B737-300 captain experiences a loss of cabin pressurization at FL340. Oxygen masks are donned and QR...

Narrative:

We were at cruise FL340 when the cabin pressurization warning sounded. We donned our masks and initiated an emergency descent. Cabin altitude showed 12;000 feet and slowly climbing. We completed QRH procedures while descending. During descent the passenger emergency oxygen system activated and I was informed by the flight attendants that the masks had dropped. At 10;000 feet I had the flight attendants check the passengers for medical stress and/or difficulties. My decision [to continue to destination] was based on the [lack of] passenger [distress] and fuel status. Had we been low on fuel or if we had a passenger in distress; we would have landed [short]. Since there were no passenger issues and we had adequate fuel; I elected to continue to original destination. Landing was uneventful and deplaning was normal. There was a concern about the odd odor we noted when we removed our masks at 10;000 feet. Neither the first officer nor I recognized it. I asked the flight attendants the cabin status and the a told me that the odor and mist were from the passenger oxygen generators.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 Captain experiences a loss of cabin pressurization at FL340. Oxygen masks are donned and QRH procedures are complied with during descent. After leveling at 10;000 feet and after considering passenger distress and fuel status; the crew elects to continue to destination.

Narrative: We were at cruise FL340 when the Cabin Pressurization Warning sounded. We donned our masks and initiated an emergency descent. Cabin altitude showed 12;000 feet and slowly climbing. We completed QRH procedures while descending. During descent the passenger emergency oxygen system activated and I was informed by the flight attendants that the masks had dropped. At 10;000 feet I had the flight attendants check the passengers for medical stress and/or difficulties. My decision [to continue to destination] was based on the [lack of] passenger [distress] and fuel status. Had we been low on fuel or if we had a passenger in distress; we would have landed [short]. Since there were no passenger issues and we had adequate fuel; I elected to continue to original destination. Landing was uneventful and deplaning was normal. There was a concern about the odd odor we noted when we removed our masks at 10;000 feet. Neither the First Officer nor I recognized it. I asked the flight attendants the cabin status and the A told me that the odor and mist were from the passenger oxygen generators.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Attributes
ACN	1050225
Time
Date	201211
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Component
Aircraft Component	Pressurization System
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 174 Flight Crew Type 174
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

B737-300 captain experiences a loss of cabin pressurization at FL340. Oxygen masks are donned and QRH procedures are complied with during descent. After leveling at 10;000 feet and after considering passenger distress and fuel status; the crew elects to continue to destination.