Narrative:

Takeoff from airport with runway lights OTS. We did not know lights were out until passenger were boarded and were ready to taxi. I assumed that since our operations specifications allowed us lower than standard takeoff minimums, requiring only adequate visual reference, that we were legal. At no point did I consider the situation unsafe or detrimental in any way. Upon referencing far 135.229 I realized we had committed a violation -- no runway marker lights. Parallel taxi lights, VASI and all other airport lights were operational at the time. All aircraft lights were working -- runway centerline and a horizon were in clear view. My decision to take off was wrong because of 135.229. My judgement said 'we can perform this operation with no compromise in safety.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SA227 METROLINER WAS DISPATCHED AT DUSK IN NON COMPLIANCE FROM AN ARPT WITH THE BOUNDARY AND RWY LIGHTS INOP.

Narrative: TKOF FROM ARPT WITH RWY LIGHTS OTS. WE DID NOT KNOW LIGHTS WERE OUT UNTIL PAX WERE BOARDED AND WERE READY TO TAXI. I ASSUMED THAT SINCE OUR OPS SPECS ALLOWED US LOWER THAN STANDARD TKOF MINIMUMS, REQUIRING ONLY ADEQUATE VISUAL REF, THAT WE WERE LEGAL. AT NO POINT DID I CONSIDER THE SIT UNSAFE OR DETRIMENTAL IN ANY WAY. UPON REFING FAR 135.229 I REALIZED WE HAD COMMITTED A VIOLATION -- NO RWY MARKER LIGHTS. PARALLEL TAXI LIGHTS, VASI AND ALL OTHER ARPT LIGHTS WERE OPERATIONAL AT THE TIME. ALL ACFT LIGHTS WERE WORKING -- RWY CTRLINE AND A HORIZON WERE IN CLR VIEW. MY DECISION TO TAKE OFF WAS WRONG BECAUSE OF 135.229. MY JUDGEMENT SAID 'WE CAN PERFORM THIS OP WITH NO COMPROMISE IN SAFETY.

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.