MD80 crew found their aircraft flew like it was considerably heavier than the weight manifest said.

Attributes
ACN	598837
Time
Date	200311
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d10.tracon tower : dfw.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : takeoff ground : takeoff roll ground : parked
Route In Use	departure sid : n/s
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	598837
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	599450
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : company policies other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : low speed fma light other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

Suspected takeoff weight above release. At liftoff on takeoff roll, the nose seemed heavier than normal and it took a little extra back pressure to get airborne. At flap retraction speed +20 KTS, the speed low light annunciated for about 10 more KTS when flaps were retracted and at slat retraction speed +20 KTS the speed low light on FMA annunciated for about 10 more KTS. The aircraft flew well and speeds and fuel flow/burn throughout cruise were normal per the flight plan. We wrote up the aircraft upon arrival and requested a cargo audit.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW FOUND THEIR ACFT FLEW LIKE IT WAS CONSIDERABLY HEAVIER THAN THE WT MANIFEST SAID.

Narrative: SUSPECTED TKOF WT ABOVE RELEASE. AT LIFTOFF ON TKOF ROLL, THE NOSE SEEMED HEAVIER THAN NORMAL AND IT TOOK A LITTLE EXTRA BACK PRESSURE TO GET AIRBORNE. AT FLAP RETRACTION SPD +20 KTS, THE SPD LOW LIGHT ANNUNCIATED FOR ABOUT 10 MORE KTS WHEN FLAPS WERE RETRACTED AND AT SLAT RETRACTION SPD +20 KTS THE SPD LOW LIGHT ON FMA ANNUNCIATED FOR ABOUT 10 MORE KTS. THE ACFT FLEW WELL AND SPDS AND FUEL FLOW/BURN THROUGHOUT CRUISE WERE NORMAL PER THE FLT PLAN. WE WROTE UP THE ACFT UPON ARR AND REQUESTED A CARGO AUDIT.

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.