Narrative:

After departure, dispatch called to say aircraft was 'overweight' for takeoff. Dispatch said we were approximately 12000 pounds heavier than weight data indicated. Dispatch commented that the departure station must have 'dropped the ball' getting data to load central. Several passenger were added to our flight as it was delayed by WX. (However these were not all accounted for apparently.) the station (like most) is understaffed and under tremendous pressure to get flts out on time. Under normal circumstances it's a challenge, with several diverted aircraft on the ground, I suppose it was even more difficult, although imperative, that every ship out was provided with accurate load data. We (the aircrew) were also rushed at the last moment when we were released to depart (after a lengthy delay) with WX closing in on the departure airport now also. Even so, we received 2 load updates so we had little reason to doubt the accuracy of our weight. We used to be required to do a head-count when we are near our runway weight, and actually the head-count requirement isn't required any longer, so I guess we just have to trust agents, especially with cargo. Hurrying things causes mistakes. Even more so when people are overworked and tired (and irritated). We were (in retrospect) not 'overweight' for runway/flap confign. We were lucky.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9-30 FLC RECEIVED CALL INFLT FROM THEIR ACR DISPATCH ADVISING THAT THEY WERE OVERWT FOR TKOF.

Narrative: AFTER DEP, DISPATCH CALLED TO SAY ACFT WAS 'OVERWT' FOR TKOF. DISPATCH SAID WE WERE APPROX 12000 LBS HEAVIER THAN WT DATA INDICATED. DISPATCH COMMENTED THAT THE DEP STATION MUST HAVE 'DROPPED THE BALL' GETTING DATA TO LOAD CENTRAL. SEVERAL PAX WERE ADDED TO OUR FLT AS IT WAS DELAYED BY WX. (HOWEVER THESE WERE NOT ALL ACCOUNTED FOR APPARENTLY.) THE STATION (LIKE MOST) IS UNDERSTAFFED AND UNDER TREMENDOUS PRESSURE TO GET FLTS OUT ON TIME. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES IT'S A CHALLENGE, WITH SEVERAL DIVERTED ACFT ON THE GND, I SUPPOSE IT WAS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT, ALTHOUGH IMPERATIVE, THAT EVERY SHIP OUT WAS PROVIDED WITH ACCURATE LOAD DATA. WE (THE AIRCREW) WERE ALSO RUSHED AT THE LAST MOMENT WHEN WE WERE RELEASED TO DEPART (AFTER A LENGTHY DELAY) WITH WX CLOSING IN ON THE DEP ARPT NOW ALSO. EVEN SO, WE RECEIVED 2 LOAD UPDATES SO WE HAD LITTLE REASON TO DOUBT THE ACCURACY OF OUR WT. WE USED TO BE REQUIRED TO DO A HEAD-COUNT WHEN WE ARE NEAR OUR RWY WT, AND ACTUALLY THE HEAD-COUNT REQUIREMENT ISN'T REQUIRED ANY LONGER, SO I GUESS WE JUST HAVE TO TRUST AGENTS, ESPECIALLY WITH CARGO. HURRYING THINGS CAUSES MISTAKES. EVEN MORE SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE OVERWORKED AND TIRED (AND IRRITATED). WE WERE (IN RETROSPECT) NOT 'OVERWT' FOR RWY/FLAP CONFIGN. WE WERE LUCKY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.