Narrative:

Left with one left main fuel tank boost pump inoperative and placarded. On climb out passing approximately 27;000 ft the left main inlet fuel pressure low light illuminated. The circuit breaker for the remaining boost pump in the left tank had tripped. I; pilot monitoring; gave the radios to my first officer pilot flying and accomplished the QRH procedures. I told the first officer to get a lower altitude and get us headed back to departure airport. In accordance with the QRH procedure we had the fuel cross feed closed and were suction feeding the left engine from the left main tank; the center tank was now empty. The inlet fuel pressure low light remained illuminated. Also in accordance with the QRH we had descended to a lower altitude; I think it was FL240. I advised dispatch of the situation and told them we were returning. After talking to dispatch I realized that we would be slightly overweight for landing. I resumed control of ATC radio communications and I declared an emergency with ATC. I briefed the flight attendants and the passengers that we would be returning. We completed an ILS touching down at 130;500 pounds; first officer flying. Equipment was standing by; but not used. We taxied to the gate. Maintenance took the aircraft out of service.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An MD-80 Flight Crew reported dispatching with a fuel pump inoperative; and losing the second pump in climb. They returned to departure airport and exercised emergency authority for an overweight landing.

Narrative: Left with one left main fuel tank boost pump inoperative and placarded. On climb out passing approximately 27;000 FT the left main inlet fuel pressure low light illuminated. The CB for the remaining boost pump in the left tank had tripped. I; pilot monitoring; gave the radios to my First Officer pilot flying and accomplished the QRH procedures. I told the First Officer to get a lower altitude and get us headed back to departure airport. IAW the QRH procedure we had the fuel cross feed closed and were suction feeding the left engine from the left main tank; the center tank was now empty. The inlet fuel pressure low light remained illuminated. Also IAW the QRH we had descended to a lower altitude; I think it was FL240. I advised Dispatch of the situation and told them we were returning. After talking to Dispatch I realized that we would be slightly overweight for landing. I resumed control of ATC radio communications and I declared an emergency with ATC. I briefed the Flight Attendants and the passengers that we would be returning. We completed an ILS touching down at 130;500 LBS; First Officer flying. Equipment was standing by; but not used. We taxied to the gate. Maintenance took the aircraft out of service.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.