B737 crew departed hpn after the tower had closed without an IFR release.

Attributes
ACN	532360
Time
Date	200112
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hpn.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hpn.tower tower : teb.tower
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	532360
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On dec/thu/01, I was preparing for my trip from hpn to liml departing at XB30 local on aircraft X. Hpn tower closes at XB00. I got an ATC clearance at about XA50 for an hpn departure to merit, climb and maintain 3000 ft and contact departure control on 126.4. During engine start I heard hpn tower was closing down for the night. I taxied out, called my intention to take off on hpn tower frequency at XB33 local and took off. At 1000 ft I called departure on 126.4. Departure control advised me that I had taken off without a release from them. Since the tower had closed I was supposed to get an ATC release from departure control prior to takeoff. Departure control was absolutely correct. Since I had gotten my ATC clearance from the tower prior to tower shutting down operations, I did not think to call departure for release prior to takeoff. I was wrong and realized my mistake the minute ATC mentioned it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW DEPARTED HPN AFTER THE TWR HAD CLOSED WITHOUT AN IFR RELEASE.

Narrative: ON DEC/THU/01, I WAS PREPARING FOR MY TRIP FROM HPN TO LIML DEPARTING AT XB30 LCL ON ACFT X. HPN TWR CLOSES AT XB00. I GOT AN ATC CLRNC AT ABOUT XA50 FOR AN HPN DEP TO MERIT, CLB AND MAINTAIN 3000 FT AND CONTACT DEP CTL ON 126.4. DURING ENG START I HEARD HPN TWR WAS CLOSING DOWN FOR THE NIGHT. I TAXIED OUT, CALLED MY INTENTION TO TAKE OFF ON HPN TWR FREQ AT XB33 LCL AND TOOK OFF. AT 1000 FT I CALLED DEP ON 126.4. DEP CTL ADVISED ME THAT I HAD TAKEN OFF WITHOUT A RELEASE FROM THEM. SINCE THE TWR HAD CLOSED I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET AN ATC RELEASE FROM DEP CTL PRIOR TO TKOF. DEP CTL WAS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. SINCE I HAD GOTTEN MY ATC CLRNC FROM THE TWR PRIOR TO TWR SHUTTING DOWN OPS, I DID NOT THINK TO CALL DEP FOR RELEASE PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. I WAS WRONG AND REALIZED MY MISTAKE THE MINUTE ATC MENTIONED IT.

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.