Narrative:

[We] had approximately 4;200 lbs of fuel in center tank for takeoff. Fuel configuration light and EICAS (engine indicating and crew alerting system) message which is normal for center pumps off when below 5;000 lbs in center tank. Canceled EICAS message as per normal procedures. On departure with new york center we were slowly step climbed to altitude. At altitude briefed the XXX Y to runway 6 at ZZZ airport. Upon receipt of aural ATIS; no digital at this airport; we discovered that they were landing 24 via an RNAV approach. Winds were light and we decided to request runway 6. We reviewed the RNAV approach to 24 in case they declined to give us runway 6. About 10 minutes prior to descent the first officer (first officer) exclaimed 'what the ....'. I looked up and discovered we had a fuel imbalance of about 4;000-4;500 lbs of fuel between the left and right wing tanks. The left side was low. Noticed that the cross feed valve was open and we never got the center fuel pumps on. No fuel config EICAS because we never got center pumps on after canceling the message on the ground before takeoff. We ran the fuel config checklist and determined we did not have a fuel leak; but the left wing tank pumps were stronger than the right and was feeding both engines. Turned off the pumps on the low fuel side to burn out of right tank. First officer commented he did see transfer valve open on the ground because maintenance was evening out tanks. I had missed this on the ground. On descent I clicked the ap (autopilot) off to check controllability with the imbalance. Airplane handled just fine with opposite aileron. Did the XXX Y into ZZZ airport. Broke out VFR at about 3;000 AGL. Landed the plane with approximately 2;000-3;000 lbs imbalance. Had mechanic transfer fuel from center tank to left tank on ground.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 Captain reported forgetting to turn on center tank boost pumps and causing a fuel imbalance.

Narrative: [We] had approximately 4;200 lbs of fuel in center tank for takeoff. Fuel configuration light and EICAS (Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System) message which is normal for center pumps off when below 5;000 lbs in center tank. Canceled EICAS message as per normal procedures. On departure with New York Center we were slowly step climbed to altitude. At altitude briefed the XXX Y to Runway 6 at ZZZ airport. Upon receipt of aural ATIS; no digital at this airport; we discovered that they were landing 24 via an RNAV approach. Winds were light and we decided to request Runway 6. We reviewed the RNAV approach to 24 in case they declined to give us Runway 6. About 10 minutes prior to descent the FO (First Officer) exclaimed 'what the ....'. I looked up and discovered we had a fuel imbalance of about 4;000-4;500 lbs of fuel between the left and right wing tanks. The left side was low. Noticed that the cross feed valve was open and we never got the center fuel pumps on. No Fuel Config EICAS because we never got center pumps on after canceling the message on the ground before takeoff. We ran the Fuel Config checklist and determined we did not have a fuel leak; but the left wing tank pumps were stronger than the right and was feeding both engines. Turned off the pumps on the low fuel side to burn out of right tank. FO commented he did see transfer valve open on the ground because Maintenance was evening out tanks. I had missed this on the ground. On descent I clicked the AP (Autopilot) off to check controllability with the imbalance. Airplane handled just fine with opposite aileron. Did the XXX Y into ZZZ airport. Broke out VFR at about 3;000 AGL. Landed the plane with approximately 2;000-3;000 lbs imbalance. Had mechanic transfer fuel from center tank to left tank on ground.

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.