Narrative:

During cruise at FL340; we noticed a change in pressurization. The flow light was illuminated on the pressurization panel; cabin vsi showing a climb of 1;000+ FPM. I called for first officer to get the quick reference handbook and the rapid decompression checklist. With the cabin altitude still climbing; I requested a lower altitude from ATC and was cleared to FL240. A descent was started at maximum rate with speed brake extended. As the cabin altitude approached 10;000 ft; the copilot and I donned our oxygen masks. First officer completed the checklist with no change in the cabin pressurization. I informed her of our situation; and that we were descending to a lower altitude. I also informed her that the passenger oxygen masks may deploy and if they did to ensure that the passengers used them. Communication with the flight attendants was difficult with the masks on and cabin altitude warning sounding. As the aircraft captured altitude at FL240 with the cabin altitude above 10;000 ft and still climbing; I requested further descent to 10;000 ft. ATC cleared us to 11;000 ft and maximum rate descent was resumed. The oxygen masks deployed automatically. Maximum cabin altitude was 16;000 ft on the descent with 0 differential cabin pressure. During the descent; ATC cleared us to 10;000 ft. After leveloff at 10;000 ft; cabin altitude warning was still sounding; so we requested and were cleared to 9;000 ft to silence the warning. I called flight attendant to tell her that the oxygen masks were no longer necessary and ask her to walk through the cabin and make sure all the passengers were ok. Fuel remaining was 16.0. With the FMS updated to 9;000 ft cruise altitude; it showed arrival fuel in ZZZ at 10.9. I gave the aircraft and ATC to the first officer and contacted the dispatcher and maintenance through ZZZ radio. Maintenance did not have any more suggestions and the dispatcher suggested that we continue on to ZZZ. I agreed to continue to ZZZ. I called a flight attendant up to the flight deck. Confirmed with her that all the passengers were ok. I told her that we were about 50 minutes from landing in ZZZ and received an update that all the passengers were calm and she had no concerns about continuing on to ZZZ. The flight continued on to ZZZ without further incident. None of the passengers appeared upset or concerned during the deplaning process.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 suffered a total loss of pressurization at FL340. Made emergency descent to 9000 MSL and continued to destination.

Narrative: During cruise at FL340; we noticed a change in pressurization. The flow light was illuminated on the pressurization panel; cabin VSI showing a climb of 1;000+ FPM. I called for First Officer to get the Quick Reference Handbook and the Rapid Decompression checklist. With the cabin altitude still climbing; I requested a lower altitude from ATC and was cleared to FL240. A descent was started at maximum rate with speed brake extended. As the cabin altitude approached 10;000 FT; the Copilot and I donned our oxygen masks. First Officer completed the checklist with no change in the cabin pressurization. I informed her of our situation; and that we were descending to a lower altitude. I also informed her that the passenger oxygen masks may deploy and if they did to ensure that the passengers used them. Communication with the Flight Attendants was difficult with the masks on and cabin altitude warning sounding. As the aircraft captured altitude at FL240 with the cabin altitude above 10;000 FT and still climbing; I requested further descent to 10;000 FT. ATC cleared us to 11;000 FT and maximum rate descent was resumed. The oxygen masks deployed automatically. Maximum cabin altitude was 16;000 FT on the descent with 0 differential cabin pressure. During the descent; ATC cleared us to 10;000 FT. After leveloff at 10;000 FT; cabin altitude warning was still sounding; so we requested and were cleared to 9;000 FT to silence the warning. I called Flight Attendant to tell her that the oxygen masks were no longer necessary and ask her to walk through the cabin and make sure all the passengers were OK. Fuel remaining was 16.0. With the FMS updated to 9;000 FT cruise altitude; it showed arrival fuel in ZZZ at 10.9. I gave the aircraft and ATC to the First Officer and contacted the Dispatcher and Maintenance through ZZZ radio. Maintenance did not have any more suggestions and the Dispatcher suggested that we continue on to ZZZ. I agreed to continue to ZZZ. I called a Flight Attendant up to the flight deck. Confirmed with her that all the passengers were OK. I told her that we were about 50 minutes from landing in ZZZ and received an update that all the passengers were calm and she had no concerns about continuing on to ZZZ. The flight continued on to ZZZ without further incident. None of the passengers appeared upset or concerned during the deplaning process.

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.