Small aircraft took off without tower clearance.

Attributes
ACN	170660
Time
Date	199102
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iag
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : iag
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : holding
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 800
ASRS Report	170660
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Aircraft waiting for clearance. Several aircraft ahead failed to pull over to side for run-up. My aircraft cleared to taxi and hold. Aircraft ahead cleared west/O delay. My aircraft departed as preceding aircraft over #south on departure end. Questionable if my aircraft had clearance for takeoff. Tower said, 'now cleared for takeoff, not authorized previously.' (no problem.) suggest airport requiring preflight and clearance use courtesy and waiting aircraft be patient as necessary.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA TOOK OFF WITHOUT TWR CLRNC.

Narrative: ACFT WAITING FOR CLRNC. SEVERAL ACFT AHEAD FAILED TO PULL OVER TO SIDE FOR RUN-UP. MY ACFT CLRED TO TAXI AND HOLD. ACFT AHEAD CLRED W/O DELAY. MY ACFT DEPARTED AS PRECEDING ACFT OVER #S ON DEP END. QUESTIONABLE IF MY ACFT HAD CLRNC FOR TKOF. TWR SAID, 'NOW CLRED FOR TKOF, NOT AUTHORIZED PREVIOUSLY.' (NO PROB.) SUGGEST ARPT REQUIRING PREFLT AND CLRNC USE COURTESY AND WAITING ACFT BE PATIENT AS NECESSARY.

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.