Narrative:

I failed to notice the dispatch release contained only 3 mins of contingency fuel (versus 30) for a planned arrival fuel of 3.4. A 'using reserve fuel' message appeared on the FMC prior to push. We confirmed that the aircraft fuel quantity did match the release amount. The FMC displayed an expected arrival fuel of 4.9. I elected to continue. We were given an off route vector and a significant airspeed increase. It quickly became apparent that we would land with less than 4.0. We declared minimum fuel and landed with 3.8. My failure to properly scrutinize the release set me up for this error. We have a great dispatch department but they are human and can make mistakes. A simple check of the planned arrival fuel amount on the dispatch release would have caught this mistake. This mistake affected the flight because of my poor dispatch review. Would it be possible for dispatch to place a limit on the computer program that generates releases so that it would generate a release with a planned arrival fuel less than 5.0?

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737 CREW MISSED A DISPATCHER'S ERROR GIVING THEM LOW CONTINGENCY FUEL. ACFT LANDED WITH 3.8 K AFTER DECLARING MIN FUEL AND USING RESERVE FUEL.

Narrative: I FAILED TO NOTICE THE DISPATCH RELEASE CONTAINED ONLY 3 MINS OF CONTINGENCY FUEL (VERSUS 30) FOR A PLANNED ARR FUEL OF 3.4. A 'USING RESERVE FUEL' MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE FMC PRIOR TO PUSH. WE CONFIRMED THAT THE ACFT FUEL QUANTITY DID MATCH THE RELEASE AMOUNT. THE FMC DISPLAYED AN EXPECTED ARR FUEL OF 4.9. I ELECTED TO CONTINUE. WE WERE GIVEN AN OFF RTE VECTOR AND A SIGNIFICANT AIRSPD INCREASE. IT QUICKLY BECAME APPARENT THAT WE WOULD LAND WITH LESS THAN 4.0. WE DECLARED MINIMUM FUEL AND LANDED WITH 3.8. MY FAILURE TO PROPERLY SCRUTINIZE THE RELEASE SET ME UP FOR THIS ERROR. WE HAVE A GREAT DISPATCH DEPT BUT THEY ARE HUMAN AND CAN MAKE MISTAKES. A SIMPLE CHK OF THE PLANNED ARR FUEL AMOUNT ON THE DISPATCH RELEASE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT THIS MISTAKE. THIS MISTAKE AFFECTED THE FLT BECAUSE OF MY POOR DISPATCH REVIEW. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR DISPATCH TO PLACE A LIMIT ON THE COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT GENERATES RELEASES SO THAT IT WOULD GENERATE A RELEASE WITH A PLANNED ARR FUEL LESS THAN 5.0?

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.