C421 pilot takes off VFR from hwd, ca, when WX conditions require an IFR flight plan and clearance.

Attributes
ACN	452548
Time
Date	199910
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oak.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 700 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Golden Eagle 421
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 7700 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	452548
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During final brief, I was interrupted by staff while briefer gave the local sequence and I missed 700 ft overcast. We have had strong VMC the past week and got complacent with what appeared to be another 'clear' morning with 10 mi visibility. At 700 ft I entered clouds until 1500 ft after takeoff. Normally I'm able to reach oak tower for the standard IFR clearance day or night -- IFR/VFR. This was a serious mistake, especially given the airspace. Although it was early, it could have had serious consequences. I've been jumping back and forth as a mechanic, ground instructor, and flight inspector and need to settle down in my pilot duties and get back to basics.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C421 PLT TAKES OFF VFR FROM HWD, CA, WHEN WX CONDITIONS REQUIRE AN IFR FLT PLAN AND CLRNC.

Narrative: DURING FINAL BRIEF, I WAS INTERRUPTED BY STAFF WHILE BRIEFER GAVE THE LCL SEQUENCE AND I MISSED 700 FT OVCST. WE HAVE HAD STRONG VMC THE PAST WK AND GOT COMPLACENT WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE ANOTHER 'CLR' MORNING WITH 10 MI VISIBILITY. AT 700 FT I ENTERED CLOUDS UNTIL 1500 FT AFTER TKOF. NORMALLY I'M ABLE TO REACH OAK TWR FOR THE STANDARD IFR CLRNC DAY OR NIGHT -- IFR/VFR. THIS WAS A SERIOUS MISTAKE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE AIRSPACE. ALTHOUGH IT WAS EARLY, IT COULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. I'VE BEEN JUMPING BACK AND FORTH AS A MECH, GND INSTRUCTOR, AND FLT INSPECTOR AND NEED TO SETTLE DOWN IN MY PLT DUTIES AND GET BACK TO BASICS.

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.