A BE18 pilot took off VFR with the intention of picking up his IFR clearance in the air.

Attributes
ACN	525036
Time
Date	200109
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : pie.vortac
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl single value : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Twin Beech 18
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 19200 flight time type : 3700
ASRS Report	525036
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure FAA Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was departing X05 (pilot country) for IFR flight to saint augustine, fl, for cargo pick up. I had previously called FSS and filed IFR, however, did not acquire the departure time window before departing. After VFR takeoff I called tampa approach control to pick up the IFR clearance on frequency. I was advised to return immediately to departure airport and phone FSS for IFR clearance, ie with departure window. I complied, returned, telephoned FSS and received time departure window. I departed the second time without incident. To prevent this recurring I have posted this FAA policy on company bulletin board for my reminder and for our other company cargo pilots. I believe that our regular departure of VFR with IFR clearance in air via radio was my mind set and work pattern. This should not happen again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE18 PLT TOOK OFF VFR WITH THE INTENTION OF PICKING UP HIS IFR CLRNC IN THE AIR.

Narrative: I WAS DEPARTING X05 (PLT COUNTRY) FOR IFR FLT TO SAINT AUGUSTINE, FL, FOR CARGO PICK UP. I HAD PREVIOUSLY CALLED FSS AND FILED IFR, HOWEVER, DID NOT ACQUIRE THE DEP TIME WINDOW BEFORE DEPARTING. AFTER VFR TAKEOFF I CALLED TAMPA APCH CTL TO PICK UP THE IFR CLRNC ON FREQ. I WAS ADVISED TO RETURN IMMEDIATELY TO DEP ARPT AND PHONE FSS FOR IFR CLRNC, IE WITH DEP WINDOW. I COMPLIED, RETURNED, TELEPHONED FSS AND RECEIVED TIME DEP WINDOW. I DEPARTED THE SECOND TIME WITHOUT INCIDENT. TO PREVENT THIS RECURRING I HAVE POSTED THIS FAA POLICY ON COMPANY BULLETIN BOARD FOR MY REMINDER AND FOR OUR OTHER COMPANY CARGO PLTS. I BELIEVE THAT OUR REGULAR DEP OF VFR WITH IFR CLRNC IN AIR VIA RADIO WAS MY MIND SET AND WORK PATTERN. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

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.