Narrative:

Our loading schedule showed a total cargo weight of 1797 pounds which gave us a zero fuel weight = 101;545 pounds and a takeoff weight = 115;548 pounds. Planned takeoff weight was 118;700 pounds; so nothing seemed out of the ordinary. 15 mins after takeoff; dispatch informed us our loading schedule was wrong because ont operations did not enter the total weight of the cargo accurately. Dispatch said our actual takeoff was 120;145 pounds over our 'left' actual takeoff gross weight of 119.2 pounds. This also put our zero fuel weight at 105;142 (above maximum zero fuel weight; 105.0 pounds). Dispatch then asked us to have the flight attendants count kids to reduce the out of weight limits. With 22 kids aboard; our new zero fuel weight = 103;243 pounds and a takeoff weight = 118;246 pounds. We then determined our weight limits were not exceeded; but we still had takeoff with inaccurate information. After landing; I called dispatch to clarify the events that occurred and to talk with the chief pilot on duty to discuss the legality of continuing on. With respect to flight crews: more awareness of the number of bags on board compared to the number of passenger on board. With respect to flight operations: more of a checks and balance to accurately account for cargo added.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 TOOK OFF FROM ONT WITH IMPROPER WT FIGURES.

Narrative: OUR LOADING SCHEDULE SHOWED A TOTAL CARGO WT OF 1797 LBS WHICH GAVE US A ZERO FUEL WT = 101;545 LBS AND A TKOF WT = 115;548 LBS. PLANNED TKOF WT WAS 118;700 LBS; SO NOTHING SEEMED OUT OF THE ORDINARY. 15 MINS AFTER TKOF; DISPATCH INFORMED US OUR LOADING SCHEDULE WAS WRONG BECAUSE ONT OPS DID NOT ENTER THE TOTAL WT OF THE CARGO ACCURATELY. DISPATCH SAID OUR ACTUAL TKOF WAS 120;145 LBS OVER OUR 'L' ACTUAL TKOF GROSS WT OF 119.2 LBS. THIS ALSO PUT OUR ZERO FUEL WT AT 105;142 (ABOVE MAXIMUM ZERO FUEL WT; 105.0 LBS). DISPATCH THEN ASKED US TO HAVE THE FLT ATTENDANTS COUNT KIDS TO REDUCE THE OUT OF WT LIMITS. WITH 22 KIDS ABOARD; OUR NEW ZERO FUEL WT = 103;243 LBS AND A TKOF WT = 118;246 LBS. WE THEN DETERMINED OUR WT LIMITS WERE NOT EXCEEDED; BUT WE STILL HAD TKOF WITH INACCURATE INFO. AFTER LNDG; I CALLED DISPATCH TO CLARIFY THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED AND TO TALK WITH THE CHIEF PLT ON DUTY TO DISCUSS THE LEGALITY OF CONTINUING ON. WITH RESPECT TO FLT CREWS: MORE AWARENESS OF THE NUMBER OF BAGS ON BOARD COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF PAX ON BOARD. WITH RESPECT TO FLT OPS: MORE OF A CHKS AND BAL TO ACCURATELY ACCOUNT FOR CARGO ADDED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.