Narrative:

Performed a low speed abort during initial takeoff roll at lga off runway 13, after observing flickering master caution light. Speed was estimated at 80 KTS or less. We had not made the 80 KT callout. I took the controls and announced abort when fuel pressure lights flickered. After clearing the runway, we discovered the fuel pump switches in the 'off' position. We determined that due to maintenance working on our plane for a captain's window problem, we were interrupted in our checklist flow and rushed too much resulting in the fuel pumps not being checked on during the just prior to start checklist. It had not felt like we were rushing through the checklist but I believe with the normal flow being interrupted we should have deliberately ensured we were doing it completely. After the abort, I decided that since I had not used the brakes excessively and we rolled almost the length of the runway, to taxi for takeoff again. We stopped, performed all checklist items, and ensured we were good to go for takeoff. Fuel was still above the minimum to fuel and the brake temperature was low. The flight proceeded uneventfully. This was a good lesson for me in how distractions affect the normal operation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 FLT CREW FAILS TO TURN ON A FUEL BOOST PUMP RESULTING IN A LOW SPD ABORT WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON.

Narrative: PERFORMED A LOW SPD ABORT DURING INITIAL TKOF ROLL AT LGA OFF RWY 13, AFTER OBSERVING FLICKERING MASTER CAUTION LIGHT. SPD WAS ESTIMATED AT 80 KTS OR LESS. WE HAD NOT MADE THE 80 KT CALLOUT. I TOOK THE CTLS AND ANNOUNCED ABORT WHEN FUEL PRESSURE LIGHTS FLICKERED. AFTER CLRING THE RWY, WE DISCOVERED THE FUEL PUMP SWITCHES IN THE 'OFF' POS. WE DETERMINED THAT DUE TO MAINT WORKING ON OUR PLANE FOR A CAPT'S WINDOW PROB, WE WERE INTERRUPTED IN OUR CHKLIST FLOW AND RUSHED TOO MUCH RESULTING IN THE FUEL PUMPS NOT BEING CHKED ON DURING THE JUST PRIOR TO START CHKLIST. IT HAD NOT FELT LIKE WE WERE RUSHING THROUGH THE CHKLIST BUT I BELIEVE WITH THE NORMAL FLOW BEING INTERRUPTED WE SHOULD HAVE DELIBERATELY ENSURED WE WERE DOING IT COMPLETELY. AFTER THE ABORT, I DECIDED THAT SINCE I HAD NOT USED THE BRAKES EXCESSIVELY AND WE ROLLED ALMOST THE LENGTH OF THE RWY, TO TAXI FOR TKOF AGAIN. WE STOPPED, PERFORMED ALL CHKLIST ITEMS, AND ENSURED WE WERE GOOD TO GO FOR TKOF. FUEL WAS STILL ABOVE THE MINIMUM TO FUEL AND THE BRAKE TEMP WAS LOW. THE FLT PROCEEDED UNEVENTFULLY. THIS WAS A GOOD LESSON FOR ME IN HOW DISTRACTIONS AFFECT THE NORMAL OP.

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.