B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 183; Flight Crew Type 10100
Distraction; Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Procedure; Human Factors
There were several interruptions to the Before Start Checklist; Flight Attendant questions; and Agent questions. So we started the Before Start Checklist twice to get it finished correctly. As the Agent handed us the load sheet; he asked us to add eight gate checked bags to forward cargo. I did the proper fuel audit and confirmed the upload amount with the loadsheet. The APU was MEL'd inoperative. I additionally briefed the alternate start procedures from the AOM as a review for both the First Officer (FO) and myself (Since it is an infrequent procedure; I normally do this for an inop APU). Lots of distractions; ZZZ also requires an additional call to Clearance prior to push for crossbleed starts. Somewhere along the way I failed to turn on the center tank pumps prior to takeoff. Upon arrival to XXX; the Fueler came into the flightdeck to ask why there was 4;000 pounds of fuel in the center tank. Initially both the FO and I assumed that it was a fuel gauge/indicator problem. Mechanics came to the gate to confirm if there was fuel in the tank. And there was; which they transferred out of the center tank into the wings. Neither the FO; nor I; could believe that we just flew almost three hours without noticing that the center tank pumps were not turned on during flight. We had a 'normal' amount of fuel in the wings for a -300 on approach; a little over 3;000 pounds in each wing tank. There was a problem with the illumination of the gauges; the center and right wing gauges were very dimly lit (digital type; not needle type). There were many chances to recognize the fuel in the center tank; and turn the pumps on. Honestly I have NO explanation and find it very difficult to believe that neither one of us realized this error.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
B737 flight crew was distracted during before start checks; failed to turn on Center Tank boost pumps; and flew to destination with 4;000 pounds of fuel in the Center Tank.