Narrative:

Following a good night's rest; I picked up a trip. I got to the airport early; got some lunch; checked in on time; and updated my pubs. I saw that the aircraft was coming in early; so I proceeded to the gate and met the aircraft on its arrival. The first officer (first officer) was coming in from another flight; so I proceeded in getting the aircraft ready. The first officer arrived; and we completed the checklists and pushed 5 minutes early. There was no rushing; but the cockpit (and the cabin) was very hot. When I called for the before takeoff checklist; the speed trim fail light illuminated. We were number two for takeoff; and I chose to continue. The takeoff was normal; but I didn't get the command bars. Thinking that I had missed them; I pushed the go-around button again. No change. That's when I noticed the red flags in my attitude indicator; which was frozen; and in the HSI. I told the first officer that we would have to return to [departure airport]; and request vectors. That's when the first officer told me that the IRS switches were in the off position. I had him tell the flight attendants that we would be returning; and made an announcement to the passengers. The first officer notified dispatch through ACARS. We completed the before landing checklists; and landed normally. It was an overweight landing; (117;000 pounds) so we called maintenance to do the inspection and sign off the logbook entry; which they did. I called dispatch and requested the [chief pilot] join in the conversation. I told them that we had just done an air return due to our error of not having the IRS's on. [Chief pilot] asked me if I was okay to continue; and I told him that I could. He said that he would call me back in about ten minutes. When he did; he told me that both the first officer and I were being replaced. It was the right decision. I would have been too distracted to continue.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Flight crew of an air carrier reported taking off without activating the navigational systems. Flight returned to the departing airport.

Narrative: Following a good night's rest; I picked up a trip. I got to the airport early; got some lunch; checked in on time; and updated my pubs. I saw that the aircraft was coming in early; so I proceeded to the gate and met the aircraft on its arrival. The First Officer (FO) was coming in from another flight; so I proceeded in getting the aircraft ready. The FO arrived; and we completed the checklists and pushed 5 minutes early. There was no rushing; but the cockpit (and the cabin) was very hot. When I called for the Before Takeoff Checklist; the Speed Trim Fail light illuminated. We were number two for takeoff; and I chose to continue. The takeoff was normal; but I didn't get the command bars. Thinking that I had missed them; I pushed the go-around button again. No change. That's when I noticed the red flags in my Attitude Indicator; which was frozen; and in the HSI. I told the FO that we would have to return to [departure airport]; and request vectors. That's when the FO told me that the IRS switches were in the OFF position. I had him tell the Flight Attendants that we would be returning; and made an announcement to the Passengers. The FO notified Dispatch through ACARS. We completed the Before Landing Checklists; and landed normally. It was an overweight landing; (117;000 pounds) so we called Maintenance to do the inspection and sign off the logbook entry; which they did. I called Dispatch and requested the [Chief Pilot] join in the conversation. I told them that we had just done an air return due to our error of not having the IRS's on. [Chief Pilot] asked me if I was okay to continue; and I told him that I could. He said that he would call me back in about ten minutes. When he did; he told me that both the FO and I were being replaced. It was the right decision. I would have been too distracted to continue.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.