Tower controller released an IFR aircraft into ARTCC airspace without issuing the IFR clearance.

Attributes
ACN	158328
Time
Date	199009
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bvt airport : laf
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau tower : laf
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other enroute : direct enroute airway : zau
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	158328
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

Never received an IFR clearance from laf gdn or tower. Tower had 4 or 5 aircraft in pattern from local college flight school. Apparently they were having some kind of landing contest. Tower got in a hurry and told us cleared for immediate takeoff and issued a course, (direct to boiler VOR/5000') altitude and a new departure frequency instead of laf departure frequency. When we contacted the new frequency, (chicago center) he asked if we had an IFR clearance. We said 'no' and explained. He then saved us an IFR clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TWR CTLR RELEASED AN IFR ACFT INTO ARTCC AIRSPACE WITHOUT ISSUING THE IFR CLRNC.

Narrative: NEVER RECEIVED AN IFR CLRNC FROM LAF GDN OR TWR. TWR HAD 4 OR 5 ACFT IN PATTERN FROM LCL COLLEGE FLT SCHOOL. APPARENTLY THEY WERE HAVING SOME KIND OF LNDG CONTEST. TWR GOT IN A HURRY AND TOLD US CLRED FOR IMMEDIATE TKOF AND ISSUED A COURSE, (DIRECT TO BOILER VOR/5000') ALT AND A NEW DEP FREQ INSTEAD OF LAF DEP FREQ. WHEN WE CONTACTED THE NEW FREQ, (CHICAGO CTR) HE ASKED IF WE HAD AN IFR CLRNC. WE SAID 'NO' AND EXPLAINED. HE THEN SAVED US AN IFR CLRNC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.