Instructor in small aircraft departs 1n9 IFR before released.

Attributes
ACN	130376
Time
Date	198912
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : etx airport : 1n9 airport : abe
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1600 msl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : abe
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : holding ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 3800 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	130376
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Allentown clearance delivery was contacted and a request was made for a series of practice instrument apches. We were provided with a transponder code and to expect radar vectors for the ILS runway 6 approach to the allentown airport (abe). We were also told to contact allentown approach on 118.2 for a release, or if unable, contact clearance delivery on 118.9. Although allentown ATIS was reporting 2 1/2 mi ground visibility, it was in this reporter's judgement that 3 mi or greater existed at queen city airport at the time of departure. (This is determined by the actual position of a ridge located approximately 5 mi to the west of the airport.) our intent was to maintain VFR and remain clear of the arsa, pending further ATC clearance. We also knew there were IFR apches in progress, and maintained a flight path so as to remain clear of the approach lane. When we reported airborne, allentown approach then told us that we were not as yet released. My reply was that I understood we were to report airborne. (This misunderstanding will never happen again.)

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR IN SMA DEPARTS 1N9 IFR BEFORE RELEASED.

Narrative: ALLENTOWN CLRNC DELIVERY WAS CONTACTED AND A REQUEST WAS MADE FOR A SERIES OF PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APCHES. WE WERE PROVIDED WITH A TRANSPONDER CODE AND TO EXPECT RADAR VECTORS FOR THE ILS RWY 6 APCH TO THE ALLENTOWN ARPT (ABE). WE WERE ALSO TOLD TO CONTACT ALLENTOWN APCH ON 118.2 FOR A RELEASE, OR IF UNABLE, CONTACT CLRNC DELIVERY ON 118.9. ALTHOUGH ALLENTOWN ATIS WAS REPORTING 2 1/2 MI GND VISIBILITY, IT WAS IN THIS REPORTER'S JUDGEMENT THAT 3 MI OR GREATER EXISTED AT QUEEN CITY ARPT AT THE TIME OF DEP. (THIS IS DETERMINED BY THE ACTUAL POSITION OF A RIDGE LOCATED APPROX 5 MI TO THE W OF THE ARPT.) OUR INTENT WAS TO MAINTAIN VFR AND REMAIN CLEAR OF THE ARSA, PENDING FURTHER ATC CLRNC. WE ALSO KNEW THERE WERE IFR APCHES IN PROGRESS, AND MAINTAINED A FLT PATH SO AS TO REMAIN CLEAR OF THE APCH LANE. WHEN WE REPORTED AIRBORNE, ALLENTOWN APCH THEN TOLD US THAT WE WERE NOT AS YET RELEASED. MY REPLY WAS THAT I UNDERSTOOD WE WERE TO REPORT AIRBORNE. (THIS MISUNDERSTANDING WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.)

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.