PA28 pilot took off on an IFR flight plan without getting an IFR release.

Attributes
ACN	433050
Time
Date	199904
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pou.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise : level
Route In Use	departure : vfr
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 18 flight time total : 368 flight time type : 167
ASRS Report	433050
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I had filed my IFR flight plan, and before departure from the uncontrolled airport, I called ATC from the ground via radio for my IFR route clearance. The clearance was received and the readback was acknowledged as correct by ATC. No further instructions were received. I then switched to the CTAF frequency to announce my departure intentions, and after a visual traffic check, departed the airport. The WX was VFR with a ceiling of about 3500 ft. Upon climbing through 1200 ft, I contacted new york departure. At this time I was advised that I had departed without being released and told to maintain VFR until I received clearance. Upon receiving this clearance to proceed, the flight was continued normally to my destination without incident. Upon review of procedures, it was apparent to me that I should have indicated to ATC at the time of the fact that I was ready to depart, and then to have specifically requested a clearance release. I attribute my error to the fact that I most often operate out of a controled airport where takeoff clearance by the tower handles IFR release.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT TOOK OFF ON AN IFR FLT PLAN WITHOUT GETTING AN IFR RELEASE.

Narrative: I HAD FILED MY IFR FLT PLAN, AND BEFORE DEP FROM THE UNCTLED ARPT, I CALLED ATC FROM THE GND VIA RADIO FOR MY IFR RTE CLRNC. THE CLRNC WAS RECEIVED AND THE READBACK WAS ACKNOWLEDGED AS CORRECT BY ATC. NO FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS WERE RECEIVED. I THEN SWITCHED TO THE CTAF FREQ TO ANNOUNCE MY DEP INTENTIONS, AND AFTER A VISUAL TFC CHK, DEPARTED THE ARPT. THE WX WAS VFR WITH A CEILING OF ABOUT 3500 FT. UPON CLBING THROUGH 1200 FT, I CONTACTED NEW YORK DEP. AT THIS TIME I WAS ADVISED THAT I HAD DEPARTED WITHOUT BEING RELEASED AND TOLD TO MAINTAIN VFR UNTIL I RECEIVED CLRNC. UPON RECEIVING THIS CLRNC TO PROCEED, THE FLT WAS CONTINUED NORMALLY TO MY DEST WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON REVIEW OF PROCS, IT WAS APPARENT TO ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE INDICATED TO ATC AT THE TIME OF THE FACT THAT I WAS READY TO DEPART, AND THEN TO HAVE SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED A CLRNC RELEASE. I ATTRIBUTE MY ERROR TO THE FACT THAT I MOST OFTEN OPERATE OUT OF A CTLED ARPT WHERE TKOF CLRNC BY THE TWR HANDLES IFR RELEASE.

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.