Unauthorized takeoff - the flight crew did not contact departure control for release before takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	301540
Time
Date	199504
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dnk airport : dnv
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cmi
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 1900 flight time type : 25
ASRS Report	301540
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	301542
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

As we approached the runway, the captain gave me the airplane and took the radios. After completing the runway checks, he was on the radios, radios were off on my side. Supplemental information from acn 301542: first officer received IFR clearance on ground at dnv while I completed the manifest. The clearance included instructions to hold for release and contact champaign when we were at the runway and ready. I taxied the aircraft to the departure runway, accomplishing the required checklists with the first officer. When all checklists were completed, I asked the first officer if he was ready to go, and his answer was yes. I released the aircraft to him for takeoff and took over communications, advising area traffic on the CTAF of our departure. Just north of dnv, I contacted champaign departure to check-in off of dnv. At this time, I was informed by ATC that we had not been released off of dnv. The controller issued an IFR clearance and we proceeded on the flight as normal. When reviewing the clearance as part of our before takeoff checklist, the first officer did not indicate, nor did I inquire about a hold for release restr. After completing the runway checklist while holding short, I switched over to CTAF and made a transmission of our intentions. The first officer assumed I was contacting ATC for a release. I assumed we were released IFR from dnv.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH TKOF - THE FLC DID NOT CONTACT DEP CTL FOR RELEASE BEFORE TKOF.

Narrative: AS WE APCHED THE RWY, THE CAPT GAVE ME THE AIRPLANE AND TOOK THE RADIOS. AFTER COMPLETING THE RWY CHKS, HE WAS ON THE RADIOS, RADIOS WERE OFF ON MY SIDE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 301542: FO RECEIVED IFR CLRNC ON GND AT DNV WHILE I COMPLETED THE MANIFEST. THE CLRNC INCLUDED INSTRUCTIONS TO HOLD FOR RELEASE AND CONTACT CHAMPAIGN WHEN WE WERE AT THE RWY AND READY. I TAXIED THE ACFT TO THE DEP RWY, ACCOMPLISHING THE REQUIRED CHKLISTS WITH THE FO. WHEN ALL CHKLISTS WERE COMPLETED, I ASKED THE FO IF HE WAS READY TO GO, AND HIS ANSWER WAS YES. I RELEASED THE ACFT TO HIM FOR TKOF AND TOOK OVER COMS, ADVISING AREA TFC ON THE CTAF OF OUR DEP. JUST N OF DNV, I CONTACTED CHAMPAIGN DEP TO CHK-IN OFF OF DNV. AT THIS TIME, I WAS INFORMED BY ATC THAT WE HAD NOT BEEN RELEASED OFF OF DNV. THE CTLR ISSUED AN IFR CLRNC AND WE PROCEEDED ON THE FLT AS NORMAL. WHEN REVIEWING THE CLRNC AS PART OF OUR BEFORE TKOF CHKLIST, THE FO DID NOT INDICATE, NOR DID I INQUIRE ABOUT A HOLD FOR RELEASE RESTR. AFTER COMPLETING THE RWY CHKLIST WHILE HOLDING SHORT, I SWITCHED OVER TO CTAF AND MADE A XMISSION OF OUR INTENTIONS. THE FO ASSUMED I WAS CONTACTING ATC FOR A RELEASE. I ASSUMED WE WERE RELEASED IFR FROM DNV.

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.