Narrative:

During preflight there were several distrs, one of which was difficulty ordering fuel. 34000 pounds were ordered (required 20000 pounds in the wings and 14000 pounds in the center). When the fuel was delivered, the fueler brought in the fuel slip and left. The crew noticed that the wing tanks had only partial fuel although the center tank appeared to be fueled 1000 pounds over what was ordered. The wings must be full when fuel is carried in the center tanks. The fueler was recalled and told to fill the wing tanks, and the crew agreed we would now have to go with 35000 pounds rather than 34000 pounds, and also agreed that we could accept the extra 1000 pounds. After the fueler left the second fuel slip (fuel recorded in gallons) we were expediting our departure, now late. I noticed that the takeoff weight was less than expected and mentioned that. We did not identify a problem and departed for ifp. Into the climb, we were still discussing the situation and both looking for anything unusual. We found it. The center tank held 5000 pounds, not 15000 pounds of fuel. We had mistakenly read the center fuel as about what was ordered, 3 times, and concentrated on the underfueling of the wing tanks. It was necessary to make a fuel stop en route, in order to land with a comfortable reserve of fuel. We planned a fuel stop at abq, now about 2 hours ahead, and coordinated with flight following. We refueled at abq. Human performance may have been degraded by fatigue, and too much concern for a timely departure.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737 FLC DEPARTS WITH LESS FUEL THAN REQUIRED AFTER HAVING 2 FUELING PROCS AND 2 FUEL SLIPS PRESENTED TO THEM AT HSV, AL.

Narrative: DURING PREFLT THERE WERE SEVERAL DISTRS, ONE OF WHICH WAS DIFFICULTY ORDERING FUEL. 34000 LBS WERE ORDERED (REQUIRED 20000 LBS IN THE WINGS AND 14000 LBS IN THE CTR). WHEN THE FUEL WAS DELIVERED, THE FUELER BROUGHT IN THE FUEL SLIP AND LEFT. THE CREW NOTICED THAT THE WING TANKS HAD ONLY PARTIAL FUEL ALTHOUGH THE CTR TANK APPEARED TO BE FUELED 1000 LBS OVER WHAT WAS ORDERED. THE WINGS MUST BE FULL WHEN FUEL IS CARRIED IN THE CTR TANKS. THE FUELER WAS RECALLED AND TOLD TO FILL THE WING TANKS, AND THE CREW AGREED WE WOULD NOW HAVE TO GO WITH 35000 LBS RATHER THAN 34000 LBS, AND ALSO AGREED THAT WE COULD ACCEPT THE EXTRA 1000 LBS. AFTER THE FUELER LEFT THE SECOND FUEL SLIP (FUEL RECORDED IN GALLONS) WE WERE EXPEDITING OUR DEP, NOW LATE. I NOTICED THAT THE TKOF WT WAS LESS THAN EXPECTED AND MENTIONED THAT. WE DID NOT IDENT A PROB AND DEPARTED FOR IFP. INTO THE CLB, WE WERE STILL DISCUSSING THE SIT AND BOTH LOOKING FOR ANYTHING UNUSUAL. WE FOUND IT. THE CTR TANK HELD 5000 LBS, NOT 15000 LBS OF FUEL. WE HAD MISTAKENLY READ THE CTR FUEL AS ABOUT WHAT WAS ORDERED, 3 TIMES, AND CONCENTRATED ON THE UNDERFUELING OF THE WING TANKS. IT WAS NECESSARY TO MAKE A FUEL STOP ENRTE, IN ORDER TO LAND WITH A COMFORTABLE RESERVE OF FUEL. WE PLANNED A FUEL STOP AT ABQ, NOW ABOUT 2 HRS AHEAD, AND COORDINATED WITH FLT FOLLOWING. WE REFUELED AT ABQ. HUMAN PERFORMANCE MAY HAVE BEEN DEGRADED BY FATIGUE, AND TOO MUCH CONCERN FOR A TIMELY DEP.

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.