C-525 single pilot departs without tower clearance.

Attributes
ACN	592496
Time
Date	200308
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sun.airport
State Reference	ID
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Citationjet, C525/C526
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 6400 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	592496
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company FAA Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In being cleared for takeoff -- or so I believed -- proceeded into 'position and hold' and did not remain, continued to take off. I had a bout of food poisoning the previous day. Single pilot in a cpr operation. I had canceled first flight of my career day previously due to illness and decided, although not 100%, to make a planned flight on this day. We had landed just 15 mins earlier and were dropping passenger en route to boise. I elected to climb VFR. The controller had specified maintain VFR below FL180. On the way in, ceilings were prevalent at around 14000-15000 ft. As I took the runway, it was on my mind as to whether I would be able to maintain the cloud clearance/VFR up to FL180. Being familiar with area, I was aware of terrain. I then departed, unsure after departure as to my clearance to take off. That day, I had elected to make a flight when I was not completely well. As I rarely get sick, I had no idea how long recovery would take. As for procedures, I now use the pitot heat switch as an indication that I am cleared for takeoff. The annunciator panel on the CJ2 extinguishes when we turn on pitot heat.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C-525 SINGLE PLT DEPARTS WITHOUT TWR CLRNC.

Narrative: IN BEING CLRED FOR TKOF -- OR SO I BELIEVED -- PROCEEDED INTO 'POS AND HOLD' AND DID NOT REMAIN, CONTINUED TO TAKE OFF. I HAD A BOUT OF FOOD POISONING THE PREVIOUS DAY. SINGLE PLT IN A CPR OP. I HAD CANCELED FIRST FLT OF MY CAREER DAY PREVIOUSLY DUE TO ILLNESS AND DECIDED, ALTHOUGH NOT 100%, TO MAKE A PLANNED FLT ON THIS DAY. WE HAD LANDED JUST 15 MINS EARLIER AND WERE DROPPING PAX ENRTE TO BOISE. I ELECTED TO CLB VFR. THE CTLR HAD SPECIFIED MAINTAIN VFR BELOW FL180. ON THE WAY IN, CEILINGS WERE PREVALENT AT AROUND 14000-15000 FT. AS I TOOK THE RWY, IT WAS ON MY MIND AS TO WHETHER I WOULD BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE CLOUD CLRNC/VFR UP TO FL180. BEING FAMILIAR WITH AREA, I WAS AWARE OF TERRAIN. I THEN DEPARTED, UNSURE AFTER DEP AS TO MY CLRNC TO TAKE OFF. THAT DAY, I HAD ELECTED TO MAKE A FLT WHEN I WAS NOT COMPLETELY WELL. AS I RARELY GET SICK, I HAD NO IDEA HOW LONG RECOVERY WOULD TAKE. AS FOR PROCS, I NOW USE THE PITOT HEAT SWITCH AS AN INDICATION THAT I AM CLRED FOR TKOF. THE ANNUNCIATOR PANEL ON THE CJ2 EXTINGUISHES WHEN WE TURN ON PITOT HEAT.

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.