Narrative:

We experienced a pressurization problem at approximately FL310. After donning oxygen masks, the captain started a descent (we were climbing to FL350) without ATC approval. I attempted and finally got ATC approval to descend to FL250. We were already at FL260 by this time. We asked for and got lower as the captain continued the descent to 15000 ft MSL. The captain chose not to declare an emergency during this descent. The corrective action, I feel, was to declare an emergency as the situation warranted this reaction. ATC did call traffic at 12 O'clock position and less than 5 mi, less than 1000 ft separation during our descent. Had the captain declared an emergency, ATC could have more effectively aided us with our descent and traffic separation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POTENTIAL CONFLICT INITIATED WHEN THE PIC OF A SABRELINER FAILS TO ISSUE AN EMER DECLARATION PRIOR TO DSNDING WHEN LOSING CABIN PRESSURE 80 MI E OF FWA, IN.

Narrative: WE EXPERIENCED A PRESSURIZATION PROB AT APPROX FL310. AFTER DONNING OXYGEN MASKS, THE CAPT STARTED A DSCNT (WE WERE CLBING TO FL350) WITHOUT ATC APPROVAL. I ATTEMPTED AND FINALLY GOT ATC APPROVAL TO DSND TO FL250. WE WERE ALREADY AT FL260 BY THIS TIME. WE ASKED FOR AND GOT LOWER AS THE CAPT CONTINUED THE DSCNT TO 15000 FT MSL. THE CAPT CHOSE NOT TO DECLARE AN EMER DURING THIS DSCNT. THE CORRECTIVE ACTION, I FEEL, WAS TO DECLARE AN EMER AS THE SIT WARRANTED THIS REACTION. ATC DID CALL TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK POS AND LESS THAN 5 MI, LESS THAN 1000 FT SEPARATION DURING OUR DSCNT. HAD THE CAPT DECLARED AN EMER, ATC COULD HAVE MORE EFFECTIVELY AIDED US WITH OUR DSCNT AND TFC SEPARATION.

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.