A B757-200 flight crew declared an emergency and diverted to the nearest suitable airport when the c...

Attributes
ACN	920151
Time
Date	201011
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Cockpit Window
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 240 Flight Crew Total 20000 Flight Crew Type 12000
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 15700 Flight Crew Type 2100
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe

Narrative:

I first noticed a small 'bubble' forming in left forward windshield. It was growing at a rate of one inch in five seconds. Then I noted brown and black discoloration and finally glowing spots in the 'bubble'. I turned off the electric windshield heat. Maybe three minutes later the windshield cracked with a very loud report. We donned oxygen masks; declared an emergency and initiated an emergency descent. Informed flight attendants; notified dispatch. ZZZ was VMC and nearby so it was the best choice for deviation. Flight manual is not entirely clear on action for this situation. Forward visibility was very restricted. I was very uncomfortable to continue flight so I chose to land at an nearby airport in VMC rather then our destination with IMC and very gusty winds. Uneventful approach and landing with first officer flying. No further damage to aircraft; no injuries.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757-200 flight crew declared an emergency and diverted to the nearest suitable airport when the Captain's windshield shattered at FL340 following an overheat condition.

Narrative: I first noticed a small 'bubble' forming in left forward windshield. It was growing at a rate of one inch in five seconds. Then I noted brown and black discoloration and finally glowing spots in The 'bubble'. I turned off the electric windshield heat. Maybe three minutes later the windshield cracked with a very loud report. We donned oxygen masks; declared an emergency and initiated an emergency descent. Informed Flight Attendants; notified dispatch. ZZZ was VMC and nearby so it was the best choice for deviation. Flight Manual is not entirely clear on action for this situation. Forward visibility was very restricted. I was very uncomfortable to continue flight so I chose to land at an nearby Airport in VMC rather then our destination with IMC and very gusty winds. Uneventful approach and landing with First Officer flying. No further damage to aircraft; no injuries.

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.

A B757-200 flight crew declared an emergency and diverted to the nearest suitable airport when the captain's windshield shattered at FL340 following an overheat condition.