SF34 crew discovered the company overloaded their aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	543227
Time
Date	200204
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bwi.airport
State Reference	MD
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Saab-Scania Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 4600 flight time type : 1700
ASRS Report	543227
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Flight Crew Human Performance Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

On apr/xa/02 we were departing bwi at approximately XA00. The station loaded all passenger, plus 1 jump seater and very heavy cargo. We (crew) informed station that we were in an overweight situation. They (station and dispatch) decided to offload 4 passenger with their cargo. They (dispatch) changed their minds several times, and eventually decided to defuel 1000 pounds of fuel in order to accommodate everyone. This created a very hectic situation with much confusion and indecision. Dispatch changed our alternate and reduced our hold fuel in order to defuel the 1000 pounds necessary. We ended up departing almost 1 hour late with all the passenger. The problem is that our cargo load was 2137 pounds, with our maximum load being 2100 pounds. We have 2 cargo areas, and each was under the maximum weight but the combined total was over by 37 pounds. I did not realize this until I reached our destination and I was thinking more about these weights. I believe the confusion and the poor planning by the station and dispatch contributed to this situation. I also know that I should've noticed this mistake. The entire ramp personnel and crew missed this error. I learned that next time I find myself in a hectic situation like this, I will consciously slow down and analyze all weights.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SF34 CREW DISCOVERED THE COMPANY OVERLOADED THEIR ACFT.

Narrative: ON APR/XA/02 WE WERE DEPARTING BWI AT APPROX XA00. THE STATION LOADED ALL PAX, PLUS 1 JUMP SEATER AND VERY HVY CARGO. WE (CREW) INFORMED STATION THAT WE WERE IN AN OVERWT SIT. THEY (STATION AND DISPATCH) DECIDED TO OFFLOAD 4 PAX WITH THEIR CARGO. THEY (DISPATCH) CHANGED THEIR MINDS SEVERAL TIMES, AND EVENTUALLY DECIDED TO DEFUEL 1000 LBS OF FUEL IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYONE. THIS CREATED A VERY HECTIC SIT WITH MUCH CONFUSION AND INDECISION. DISPATCH CHANGED OUR ALTERNATE AND REDUCED OUR HOLD FUEL IN ORDER TO DEFUEL THE 1000 LBS NECESSARY. WE ENDED UP DEPARTING ALMOST 1 HR LATE WITH ALL THE PAX. THE PROB IS THAT OUR CARGO LOAD WAS 2137 LBS, WITH OUR MAX LOAD BEING 2100 LBS. WE HAVE 2 CARGO AREAS, AND EACH WAS UNDER THE MAX WT BUT THE COMBINED TOTAL WAS OVER BY 37 LBS. I DID NOT REALIZE THIS UNTIL I REACHED OUR DEST AND I WAS THINKING MORE ABOUT THESE WTS. I BELIEVE THE CONFUSION AND THE POOR PLANNING BY THE STATION AND DISPATCH CONTRIBUTED TO THIS SIT. I ALSO KNOW THAT I SHOULD'VE NOTICED THIS MISTAKE. THE ENTIRE RAMP PERSONNEL AND CREW MISSED THIS ERROR. I LEARNED THAT NEXT TIME I FIND MYSELF IN A HECTIC SIT LIKE THIS, I WILL CONSCIOUSLY SLOW DOWN AND ANALYZE ALL WTS.

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.