Air carrier large transport departs with improper weight and balance information.

Attributes
ACN	137678
Time
Date	199002
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1026 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : preflight ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 215 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 7500
ASRS Report	137678
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other other

Narrative:

On climbout we were asked by atl departure to contact the company. The company informed us that the automated weight and balance sheet omitted 20 coach passenger and they gave us the adjusted weights. The second officer did not notice or advise me of the original discrepancy. The first officer and I also missed the count discrepancy since the weights on the weight and balance were the same as that on our flight plan. In this case there was no problem since the original weight was 134,026 and the adjusted weight was 137,600. A potential problem, however, did exist.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT DEPARTS WITH IMPROPER WEIGHT AND BALANCE INFORMATION.

Narrative: ON CLIMBOUT WE WERE ASKED BY ATL DEP TO CONTACT THE COMPANY. THE COMPANY INFORMED US THAT THE AUTOMATED WEIGHT AND BALANCE SHEET OMITTED 20 COACH PAX AND THEY GAVE US THE ADJUSTED WEIGHTS. THE S/O DID NOT NOTICE OR ADVISE ME OF THE ORIGINAL DISCREPANCY. THE F/O AND I ALSO MISSED THE COUNT DISCREPANCY SINCE THE WEIGHTS ON THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE WERE THE SAME AS THAT ON OUR FLT PLAN. IN THIS CASE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM SINCE THE ORIGINAL WEIGHT WAS 134,026 AND THE ADJUSTED WEIGHT WAS 137,600. A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, HOWEVER, DID EXIST.

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.