Narrative:

On initial power application for takeoff we realized our flaps were not in the desired off setting. We closed the throttles and exited the runway. We reset the flaps to the desired takeoff setting, executed the checklists again, and continued with a normal flight. The problem arose by being overloaded with changes while having a short taxi and quick takeoff clearance. We were delayed getting our weight and balance data, delayed getting an amended dispatch release for an autoplt MEL, a runway change, and having to reprogram the computer with V1, vr, V2 numbers twice. We had completed all the checklists with proper responses but had many distractions during a period of high workload and a limited amount of time to complete all the required items. On initial power application for takeoff, the takeoff warning horn sounded. We pulled back the power and told tower we'd like to pull off the runway to check the aircraft. After pulling off the runway we found the flaps were not in the correct position for takeoff. We were shocked that this had happened to us -- we are careful! But it had. We had been delayed on pushback, delayed getting our weight and balance data, delayed getting an amended release for an autoplt MEL, runway change and short taxi, reprogrammed the computers, then tower hurried to get us off. We knew we had done everything, and done it correctly. And we completed all the checklists. The responses were correct, but the flaps were not. After clearing the runway we very deliberately and methodically ran all the checklists again. We then made a normal takeoff having learned a great lesson -- after 27 yrs of flying, it can happen to me. I feel I should also tell you that the first officer and I both already knew how important the strict adherence to checklists is. We're both highly experienced, conscientious, alert, interested, and share a love of flying. We work very well together and nothing gets by us. We are very careful, and when the workload gets heavier, we are even more careful. But the flaps were in the wrong position. Two very professional pilots screwed up. And it was my responsibility. It won't happen again, or rather I should say, I'll do everything in my power not to let it happen.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A MLG ABORTS TKOF IN LAX BECAUSE THE FLAPS WERE NEVER SET FOR DEP.

Narrative: ON INITIAL PWR APPLICATION FOR TKOF WE REALIZED OUR FLAPS WERE NOT IN THE DESIRED OFF SETTING. WE CLOSED THE THROTTLES AND EXITED THE RWY. WE RESET THE FLAPS TO THE DESIRED TKOF SETTING, EXECUTED THE CHKLISTS AGAIN, AND CONTINUED WITH A NORMAL FLT. THE PROB AROSE BY BEING OVERLOADED WITH CHANGES WHILE HAVING A SHORT TAXI AND QUICK TKOF CLRNC. WE WERE DELAYED GETTING OUR WT AND BAL DATA, DELAYED GETTING AN AMENDED DISPATCH RELEASE FOR AN AUTOPLT MEL, A RWY CHANGE, AND HAVING TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER WITH V1, VR, V2 NUMBERS TWICE. WE HAD COMPLETED ALL THE CHKLISTS WITH PROPER RESPONSES BUT HAD MANY DISTRACTIONS DURING A PERIOD OF HIGH WORKLOAD AND A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME TO COMPLETE ALL THE REQUIRED ITEMS. ON INITIAL PWR APPLICATION FOR TKOF, THE TKOF WARNING HORN SOUNDED. WE PULLED BACK THE PWR AND TOLD TWR WE'D LIKE TO PULL OFF THE RWY TO CHK THE ACFT. AFTER PULLING OFF THE RWY WE FOUND THE FLAPS WERE NOT IN THE CORRECT POS FOR TKOF. WE WERE SHOCKED THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED TO US -- WE ARE CAREFUL! BUT IT HAD. WE HAD BEEN DELAYED ON PUSHBACK, DELAYED GETTING OUR WT AND BAL DATA, DELAYED GETTING AN AMENDED RELEASE FOR AN AUTOPLT MEL, RWY CHANGE AND SHORT TAXI, REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTERS, THEN TWR HURRIED TO GET US OFF. WE KNEW WE HAD DONE EVERYTHING, AND DONE IT CORRECTLY. AND WE COMPLETED ALL THE CHKLISTS. THE RESPONSES WERE CORRECT, BUT THE FLAPS WERE NOT. AFTER CLRING THE RWY WE VERY DELIBERATELY AND METHODICALLY RAN ALL THE CHKLISTS AGAIN. WE THEN MADE A NORMAL TKOF HAVING LEARNED A GREAT LESSON -- AFTER 27 YRS OF FLYING, IT CAN HAPPEN TO ME. I FEEL I SHOULD ALSO TELL YOU THAT THE FO AND I BOTH ALREADY KNEW HOW IMPORTANT THE STRICT ADHERENCE TO CHKLISTS IS. WE'RE BOTH HIGHLY EXPERIENCED, CONSCIENTIOUS, ALERT, INTERESTED, AND SHARE A LOVE OF FLYING. WE WORK VERY WELL TOGETHER AND NOTHING GETS BY US. WE ARE VERY CAREFUL, AND WHEN THE WORKLOAD GETS HEAVIER, WE ARE EVEN MORE CAREFUL. BUT THE FLAPS WERE IN THE WRONG POS. TWO VERY PROFESSIONAL PLTS SCREWED UP. AND IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN, OR RATHER I SHOULD SAY, I'LL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER NOT TO LET IT HAPPEN.

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.