RPTR ERROR ADMITTED IN MAKING AN OVERWT LNDG IN AN ACR MLG DURING A NON ROUTINE PLANNED STOP AT MCI FROM ICT TO STL.

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HAD A FLT SCHEDULED ICT-STL WITH AN AB59 DEP. APPROX 10- 15 MINS BEFORE DEP; WE WERE NOTIFIED BY THE AGENT THAT DISPATCH NEEDED US TO STOP AT MCI TO DROP OFF ONE OF OUR CABIN ATTENDANTS FOR A FLT WAITING TO DEPART MCI AND 1 CABIN ATTENDANT SHORT. A NEW RELEASE FOLLOWED SHOWING 2000 LBS LESS FUEL BUT WE BLOCKED OUT ON SCHEDULE WITH ORIGINAL FUEL RELEASE ON BOARD. I FELT SURE THAT A COMMUTING CABIN ATTENDANT WOULD SHOW UP BY THE TIME WE ARRIVED AND WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO LAND. THE ORIGINAL FUEL RELEASE WAS GOOD FOR A RE-FILE ENRTE WITH DISPATCH CHANGING MCI TO STL AS DEST. WHEN IN RADIO RANGE OF MCI I LEARNED THAT NO CABIN ATTENDANT HAD SHOWN UP; THE PLANE WAS LOADED AND READY TO GO EXCEPT 1 CABIN ATTENDANT SHORT. AT THIS TIME WE CALCULATED THAT WE WOULD BE APPROX 1400 LBS OVERWT FOR LNDG. WITH THAT PLANE LOADED WITH PAX AND KNOWING THAT A SMOOTH LNDG WOULD NOT JEOPARDIZE SAFETY; I DECIDED TO LAND THE ACFT OVERWT (ONLY 1400 LBS) AND GET THE REQUIRED OVERWT LNDG INSPECTION FROM MAINT. IT DIDN'T SEEM NECESSARY TO WASTE THE FUEL; I WOULD SAVE ABOUT 30 MINS IN GETTING THAT FLT ON ITS WAY; AND I WOULD GET OFF SOONER TO STL WITH MY 50+ PAX HAVING A CHANCE TO MAKE THEIR CONNECTIONS AS WELL AS BE CLOSE TO MAKING OUR SCHEDULED AE00 DEP FROM STL-MKE. I NOTIFIED MCI MAINT TO HAVE THEIR PEOPLE STANDING BY FOR THE INSPECTION AND A QUICK TURN. I MADE THE REQUIRED LOG ENTRY FOR AN OVERWT LNDG AND REQUIRED INSPECTION WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND SIGNED OFF BEFORE OUR DEP FOR STL. THAT NIGHT; CONTEMPLATING MY ACTIONS OF THE DAY; THE AGONIZING BEGAN. HAD I USED POOR JUDGEMENT AND BEEN OVERCONFIDENT IN MY ABILITY TO LAND SMOOTHLY? HAD I ALLOWED MY DESIRE TO PROVIDE OUR PAX THE BEST SVC POSSIBLE MAKE ME USE A SHORT-CUT; MISUSE PLT'S USE OF EMER AUTH? WAS 1400 LBS REALLY A SAFETY ISSUE? WAS MY SIT A JUSTIFIABLE CONDITION TO LAND OVERWT? WAS I PRESSURED TO DO WHAT I DID? WAS I RUSHED INTO THIS ACTION? I'VE CONCLUDED THAT REGS ARE FOREMOST AN EFFORT TO PROMOTE SAFETY AND THAT I PUSHED THE LIMIT BY 1400 LBS. NO OPERATIONAL TIME SCHEDULE OR EFFORT TO PROVIDE PAX CONVENIENCE IS REALLY; REALLY A JUSTIFICATION TO NOT COMPLY WITH A REG IN ITS ENTIRELY. NO ORGANIZATION; NO DEPT; NO PERSON WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MY ACTIONS EXCEPT ME. CONCERNING CORRECTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PREVENT RECURRENCE OF A SIMILAR SIT IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE MY COMPANY DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB IN STRESSING; TEACHING; AND REVIEWING/REMINDING PLTS TO BE AGGRESSIVELY SAFETY MINDED. I ADDRESS THIS RPT TO MYSELF AND PONDER THE PHRASE 'FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT.'