I read stories about this happening on 727s back in the late 70s/early 80s. Mgmt wanted them to taxi with #2 shut down to save fuel. Despite 2 pilots and an FE it still happened.
As much as everyone would like to bash the management, remember that this is a simple mistake that ANY one of us could make.
That said, trying to BS the mistake to the FAA and asking other pilots to fudge their reports is inexcuseable.
The only time I got close was on a 727.
Take the "Hot Tub Time Machine" back to the late 1990's...
Most 727 captains at my airline would say "Start #3 when you think it's appropriate" and that worked fine. However, there were a couple of
micromanagers that thought that the FE and FO were there because he couldn't reach all of the controls himself and he needs someone to babysit the cockpit when he disappears for the occasional potty break.
Anyway, we're taxiing along in ATL with two engines and I'm getting a little antsy as we approach the runway, waiting for captain fabulous to give the universal sign to "spool 'em up", ATC calls about us taking an intersection departure.
"Hey! Check the numbers!"
So I start digging into the AWABS, figure the cutback distance and start cranking out performance data and the bonehead is already taxiing into position for an intersection takeoff.
At this point I just had it.
"STOP. The performance data isn't done and you've only got two engines running."
Of course Bonehead and Bonehead Junior, since I was a newbie, acted like I was an idiot because they were already in position at the new intersection and had to tell ATC they weren't ready after all.
That situation always stuck with me. Sometimes when you let external influences (ATC, cabin crew, company 'techniques', being 'mission oriented', 'get home -itis', self-developed quirky/weird techniques) intersect what the big picture of what we're trying to accomplish, these things happen very easily.
Plus, it's never the crime, it's the cover-up!
