Narrative:

I'm still relatively new as an first officer on the B737. We were running somewhat late and I was doing my checks, so the captain did the last min gate paperwork I normally do. Assured all was in order, we pushed, taxied and took off. When we went from tower frequency to departure, they informed us the transponder code was wrong. I was flying and at that point the captain asked where the pre departure clearance was. I answered I hadn't seen it. (Normally comes just before pushback at the gate.) while looking for the non existent pre departure clearance and having this discussion, we went through the normal 2500 ft leveloff (as published). The captain was working the radios and delayed long enough for departure to provide the transponder code/clearance. Luckily we were apparently cleared to 5000 ft on departure so we didn't have an altitude bust (but certainly could have). Bottom line: 1) we were rushed and my habit patterns were upset by captain doing what I normally do at pushback. 2) I didn't realize pattern was broken. 3) captain didn't ask or realize he did not have pre departure clearance. 4) normal departure altitude, frequencys were set from memory giving appearance that pre departure clearance was received. But transponder had all zero's in it indicating that pre departure clearance was not received. Neither of us noticed this before takeoff. Corrective action: I've added to my before push memory items to ensure we have: 1) logbook, 2) gear pins, 3) fuel slip, 4) accuload, and now 5) pre departure clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF MLG FAILS TO GET THEIR PDC AND USES WRONG XPONDER CODE ON TKOF AND INITIAL CLB. DEP CTLR QUERIES THEM AND GIVES THE PROPER INFO.

Narrative: I'M STILL RELATIVELY NEW AS AN FO ON THE B737. WE WERE RUNNING SOMEWHAT LATE AND I WAS DOING MY CHKS, SO THE CAPT DID THE LAST MIN GATE PAPERWORK I NORMALLY DO. ASSURED ALL WAS IN ORDER, WE PUSHED, TAXIED AND TOOK OFF. WHEN WE WENT FROM TWR FREQ TO DEP, THEY INFORMED US THE XPONDER CODE WAS WRONG. I WAS FLYING AND AT THAT POINT THE CAPT ASKED WHERE THE PDC WAS. I ANSWERED I HADN'T SEEN IT. (NORMALLY COMES JUST BEFORE PUSHBACK AT THE GATE.) WHILE LOOKING FOR THE NON EXISTENT PDC AND HAVING THIS DISCUSSION, WE WENT THROUGH THE NORMAL 2500 FT LEVELOFF (AS PUBLISHED). THE CAPT WAS WORKING THE RADIOS AND DELAYED LONG ENOUGH FOR DEP TO PROVIDE THE XPONDER CODE/CLRNC. LUCKILY WE WERE APPARENTLY CLRED TO 5000 FT ON DEP SO WE DIDN'T HAVE AN ALT BUST (BUT CERTAINLY COULD HAVE). BOTTOM LINE: 1) WE WERE RUSHED AND MY HABIT PATTERNS WERE UPSET BY CAPT DOING WHAT I NORMALLY DO AT PUSHBACK. 2) I DIDN'T REALIZE PATTERN WAS BROKEN. 3) CAPT DIDN'T ASK OR REALIZE HE DID NOT HAVE PDC. 4) NORMAL DEP ALT, FREQS WERE SET FROM MEMORY GIVING APPEARANCE THAT PDC WAS RECEIVED. BUT XPONDER HAD ALL ZERO'S IN IT INDICATING THAT PDC WAS NOT RECEIVED. NEITHER OF US NOTICED THIS BEFORE TKOF. CORRECTIVE ACTION: I'VE ADDED TO MY BEFORE PUSH MEMORY ITEMS TO ENSURE WE HAVE: 1) LOGBOOK, 2) GEAR PINS, 3) FUEL SLIP, 4) ACCULOAD, AND NOW 5) PDC.

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.