Corporate jet experiences cracked windshield and executes emergency or rapid descent.

Attributes
ACN	148653
Time
Date	199006
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : obk
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 2800
ASRS Report	148653
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Climbed through FL310 to FL370 coplts windshield cracked. Immediately began a descent and advised center of the problem. Center advised us to descend to FL290, however we were descending through FL280 at that time. A new clearance was issued to descend to FL240 and turn to a heading of 300 degree. After determining the windshield was in tact, request 13000' and vectors to detroit metropolitan. Flight was completed west/O incident. At no time did center mention any problem with conflicting traffic, from the descent.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORPORATE JET EXPERIENCES CRACKED WINDSHIELD AND EXECUTES EMERGENCY OR RAPID DESCENT.

Narrative: CLBED THROUGH FL310 TO FL370 COPLTS WINDSHIELD CRACKED. IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A DSNT AND ADVISED CTR OF THE PROB. CTR ADVISED US TO DSND TO FL290, HOWEVER WE WERE DSNDING THROUGH FL280 AT THAT TIME. A NEW CLRNC WAS ISSUED TO DSND TO FL240 AND TURN TO A HDG OF 300 DEG. AFTER DETERMINING THE WINDSHIELD WAS IN TACT, REQUEST 13000' AND VECTORS TO DETROIT METRO. FLT WAS COMPLETED W/O INCIDENT. AT NO TIME DID CTR MENTION ANY PROB WITH CONFLICTING TFC, FROM THE DSNT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.