Narrative:

There were several interruptions to the before start checklist; flight attendant questions; and agent questions. So we started the before start checklist twice to get it finished correctly. As the agent handed us the load sheet; he asked us to add eight gate checked bags to forward cargo. I did the proper fuel audit and confirmed the upload amount with the loadsheet. The APU was MEL'd inoperative. I additionally briefed the alternate start procedures from the aom as a review for both the first officer (first officer) and myself (since it is an infrequent procedure; I normally do this for an inop APU). Lots of distractions; ZZZ also requires an additional call to clearance prior to push for crossbleed starts. Somewhere along the way I failed to turn on the center tank pumps prior to takeoff. Upon arrival to XXX; the fueler came into the flightdeck to ask why there was 4;000 pounds of fuel in the center tank. Initially both the first officer and I assumed that it was a fuel gauge/indicator problem. Mechanics came to the gate to confirm if there was fuel in the tank. And there was; which they transferred out of the center tank into the wings. Neither the first officer; nor I; could believe that we just flew almost three hours without noticing that the center tank pumps were not turned on during flight. We had a 'normal' amount of fuel in the wings for a -300 on approach; a little over 3;000 pounds in each wing tank. There was a problem with the illumination of the gauges; the center and right wing gauges were very dimly lit (digital type; not needle type). There were many chances to recognize the fuel in the center tank; and turn the pumps on. Honestly I have no explanation and find it very difficult to believe that neither one of us realized this error.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 flight crew was distracted during before start checks; failed to turn on Center Tank boost pumps; and flew to destination with 4;000 pounds of fuel in the Center Tank.

Narrative: There were several interruptions to the Before Start Checklist; Flight Attendant questions; and Agent questions. So we started the Before Start Checklist twice to get it finished correctly. As the Agent handed us the load sheet; he asked us to add eight gate checked bags to forward cargo. I did the proper fuel audit and confirmed the upload amount with the loadsheet. The APU was MEL'd inoperative. I additionally briefed the alternate start procedures from the AOM as a review for both the First Officer (FO) and myself (Since it is an infrequent procedure; I normally do this for an inop APU). Lots of distractions; ZZZ also requires an additional call to Clearance prior to push for crossbleed starts. Somewhere along the way I failed to turn on the center tank pumps prior to takeoff. Upon arrival to XXX; the Fueler came into the flightdeck to ask why there was 4;000 pounds of fuel in the center tank. Initially both the FO and I assumed that it was a fuel gauge/indicator problem. Mechanics came to the gate to confirm if there was fuel in the tank. And there was; which they transferred out of the center tank into the wings. Neither the FO; nor I; could believe that we just flew almost three hours without noticing that the center tank pumps were not turned on during flight. We had a 'normal' amount of fuel in the wings for a -300 on approach; a little over 3;000 pounds in each wing tank. There was a problem with the illumination of the gauges; the center and right wing gauges were very dimly lit (digital type; not needle type). There were many chances to recognize the fuel in the center tank; and turn the pumps on. Honestly I have NO explanation and find it very difficult to believe that neither one of us realized this error.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.