Small aircraft departing using light signals is accused of taking off without a green light.

Attributes
ACN	232122
Time
Date	199301
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lex
State Reference	KY
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lex tower : ric
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : holding ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 820 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	232122
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe incursion : runway non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

My student and I were given a clearance to taxi to active runway for departure. After giving right of way to another aircraft on ground, we lost radio communication. At that point tower gave us a flashing white light. We then taxied back to FBO. I called by phone to tower getting a clearance to depart by light signals. We were given a flashing green light from tower to taxi to active runway. After taxiing to the active runway, we waited for green light from tower. Both my student and I saw a green light from tower, looked for traffic and departed, following ATC instructions. I was told at somerset airport that the FAA had called saying we departed without a green light. I was also informed they were asking for a different airplane than the one I had flown the previous evening. Until then I was unaware of giving the wrong north number. I teach in 2 different airplanes and gave the wrong north number. This mistake will be corrected by writing down correct north number prior to communication with ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA DEPARTING USING LIGHT SIGNALS IS ACCUSED OF TAKING OFF WITHOUT A GREEN LIGHT.

Narrative: MY STUDENT AND I WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO TAXI TO ACTIVE RWY FOR DEP. AFTER GIVING RIGHT OF WAY TO ANOTHER ACFT ON GND, WE LOST RADIO COM. AT THAT POINT TWR GAVE US A FLASHING WHITE LIGHT. WE THEN TAXIED BACK TO FBO. I CALLED BY PHONE TO TWR GETTING A CLRNC TO DEPART BY LIGHT SIGNALS. WE WERE GIVEN A FLASHING GREEN LIGHT FROM TWR TO TAXI TO ACTIVE RWY. AFTER TAXIING TO THE ACTIVE RWY, WE WAITED FOR GREEN LIGHT FROM TWR. BOTH MY STUDENT AND I SAW A GREEN LIGHT FROM TWR, LOOKED FOR TFC AND DEPARTED, FOLLOWING ATC INSTRUCTIONS. I WAS TOLD AT SOMERSET ARPT THAT THE FAA HAD CALLED SAYING WE DEPARTED WITHOUT A GREEN LIGHT. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THEY WERE ASKING FOR A DIFFERENT AIRPLANE THAN THE ONE I HAD FLOWN THE PREVIOUS EVENING. UNTIL THEN I WAS UNAWARE OF GIVING THE WRONG N NUMBER. I TEACH IN 2 DIFFERENT AIRPLANES AND GAVE THE WRONG N NUMBER. THIS MISTAKE WILL BE CORRECTED BY WRITING DOWN CORRECT N NUMBER PRIOR TO COM WITH ATC.

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.