Reporter took off with snow on wings.

Attributes
ACN	290741
Time
Date	199411
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : anc
State Reference	AK
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : phl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B747 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 11000
ASRS Report	290741
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	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were scheduled to depart approximately 1 hour after aircraft arrival. There was intermittent light snow falling and the temperature was 16 degrees fahrenheit. On arrival at the aircraft we noted a small amount of powdery snow on it that we could blow off with a light breath. We checked the fom which stated 'crew members are prohibited under far 121.629 from attempting a takeoff when frost, snow, or ice is adhering to the wings or control surfaces of the aircraft.' we also had maintenance inspect the wings before pushback to see if we needed deicing. They said no snow was sticking. We departed with no problems. We checked the fom more thoroughly when en route and decided we should have been deiced. We were lured into accepting the aircraft by the word 'adhering.' I recommend it be changed if the intent is for the aircraft to be completely clean.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR TOOK OFF WITH SNOW ON WINGS.

Narrative: WE WERE SCHEDULED TO DEPART APPROX 1 HR AFTER ACFT ARR. THERE WAS INTERMITTENT LIGHT SNOW FALLING AND THE TEMP WAS 16 DEGS FAHRENHEIT. ON ARR AT THE ACFT WE NOTED A SMALL AMOUNT OF POWDERY SNOW ON IT THAT WE COULD BLOW OFF WITH A LIGHT BREATH. WE CHKED THE FOM WHICH STATED 'CREW MEMBERS ARE PROHIBITED UNDER FAR 121.629 FROM ATTEMPTING A TKOF WHEN FROST, SNOW, OR ICE IS ADHERING TO THE WINGS OR CTL SURFACES OF THE ACFT.' WE ALSO HAD MAINT INSPECT THE WINGS BEFORE PUSHBACK TO SEE IF WE NEEDED DEICING. THEY SAID NO SNOW WAS STICKING. WE DEPARTED WITH NO PROBS. WE CHKED THE FOM MORE THOROUGHLY WHEN ENRTE AND DECIDED WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEICED. WE WERE LURED INTO ACCEPTING THE ACFT BY THE WORD 'ADHERING.' I RECOMMEND IT BE CHANGED IF THE INTENT IS FOR THE ACFT TO BE COMPLETELY CLEAN.

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.