B737-500
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 260; Flight Crew Type 8000
Physiological - Other
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
While in cruise at FL360 the Cabin Altitude Warning horn sounded as cabin altitude climbed through 10;000 feet. We accomplished the applicable checklists but were unable to control the cabin pressure. We initiated an emergency descent and told the flight attendants to sit down and expect the oxygen masks to deploy; which they did automatically at approximately 15;000 feet cabin altitude. We declared an emergency and descended to 10;000 feet. We then considered diverting to MSY; which was 120 NM behind us but the reported weather was +TSRA; so we decided to continue to our planned destination. We had plenty of fuel for the lower altitude. We landed at our original destination and were met by EMTs at the gate.
[Narrative #2 contained no additional information]
A B737-500 flight crew suffered a pressurization failure; initiated an emergency descent and; when level at 10;000 feet with adequate fuel reserves; elected to continue to their destination rather than divert.