B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
After takeoff from runway XXR at Airport ZZZ Smoke began to fill the cockpit at approximately 2;000 feet. Requested to level off at 3;000 feet then [advised ATC] and requested a return to Airport. Turned off Left recirculation fan as this seemed to be source of the smoke; smoke then cleared rapidly. Landed uneventfully on runway XXL and returned to the gate where maintenance began a check for source of the smoke and overweight landing.
During climbout from at approximately 2;000 feet MSL; cockpit began to fill with dark gray smoke. Requested level off at 3000 feet; requested return to ZZZ. Received radar vectors for left downwind and ILS. Turned off left recirculation fan and smoke stopped. Smoke cleared on downwind leg. Normal approach and normal touchdown for an overweight landing. 145;000 (Minimum Landing Weight 144;000). ARFF verified no additional issues.
A B-737-800 flight crew noted dark grey smoke in the cockpit after takeoff at about 2;000 feet. They requested level off at 3;000 feet; and requested return to departure airport. They turned off the left recirculation fan and the smoke stopped. They landed uneventfully at 1;000 pounds over max landing weight.