Takeoff without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	299042
Time
Date	199503
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lbe
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : preflight
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 2350
ASRS Report	299042
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe incursion : runway non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Upon calling the tower, prior to taxi, the tower reported my transmission as weak. I was cleared to the active. At the active, I could not hear the tower, but, thinking that they could hear me, I asked for a light signal. Since the tower was a good distance away, I was not certain that I saw a green light. However, since I knew the tower was aware that I was having radio difficulties, I thought it permissible to take off. In retrospect, perhaps I should have returned to the terminal and called the tower!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TKOF WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: UPON CALLING THE TWR, PRIOR TO TAXI, THE TWR RPTED MY XMISSION AS WEAK. I WAS CLRED TO THE ACTIVE. AT THE ACTIVE, I COULD NOT HEAR THE TWR, BUT, THINKING THAT THEY COULD HEAR ME, I ASKED FOR A LIGHT SIGNAL. SINCE THE TWR WAS A GOOD DISTANCE AWAY, I WAS NOT CERTAIN THAT I SAW A GREEN LIGHT. HOWEVER, SINCE I KNEW THE TWR WAS AWARE THAT I WAS HAVING RADIO DIFFICULTIES, I THOUGHT IT PERMISSIBLE TO TAKE OFF. IN RETROSPECT, PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE RETURNED TO THE TERMINAL AND CALLED THE TWR!

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.