An small transport pilot took off into IFR clearance WX without a clearance.

Attributes
ACN	211319
Time
Date	199205
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : jbr
State Reference	AK
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zme
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	arrival other
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 2750 flight time type : 70
ASRS Report	211319
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Taxiing out for takeoff from jbr, I did not noticed the airport beacon on. We tried to call nbr radio on frequency 123.0 as published on the commercial approach plate. After no reply, we announced our intentions and took off on runway 5. After liftoff we turned to 90 degree. We made visual and radio contact with an small aircraft on left downwind for runway 23. As we reached an altitude of 1000 AGL, I called memphis approach on 127.4. Memphis approach then advised us that jbr control zone was IFR. My mistake was; not familiarize myself with the airport and control zone, did not notice the beacon and assuming the WX was VFR.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMT PLT TOOK OFF INTO IFR CLRNC WX WITHOUT A CLRNC.

Narrative: TAXIING OUT FOR TKOF FROM JBR, I DID NOT NOTICED THE ARPT BEACON ON. WE TRIED TO CALL NBR RADIO ON FREQ 123.0 AS PUBLISHED ON THE COMMERCIAL APCH PLATE. AFTER NO REPLY, WE ANNOUNCED OUR INTENTIONS AND TOOK OFF ON RWY 5. AFTER LIFTOFF WE TURNED TO 90 DEG. WE MADE VISUAL AND RADIO CONTACT WITH AN SMA ON L DOWNWIND FOR RWY 23. AS WE REACHED AN ALT OF 1000 AGL, I CALLED MEMPHIS APCH ON 127.4. MEMPHIS APCH THEN ADVISED US THAT JBR CTL ZONE WAS IFR. MY MISTAKE WAS; NOT FAMILIARIZE MYSELF WITH THE ARPT AND CTL ZONE, DID NOT NOTICE THE BEACON AND ASSUMING THE WX WAS VFR.

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.