Narrative:

I filed IFR from ojc direct to 0v3. I received my clearance prior to taxiing to runway 18. Was cleared direct to 0v3, climb to 3000 ft, expect 6000 ft 10 mins after, frequency 118.9 and squawk XXXX. After run-up, I pulled up to the line ready for takeoff. I called tower, and declared ready for takeoff. Tower responded, and I responded 'cleared for takeoff.' I received no correction from tower concerning a heading. I climbed out to 500 ft and due to the lack of an assigned heading, I turned out to my destination heading of 294 degrees. Tower called and instructed me to contact kansas city departure. I went to departure control and was greeted by a very concerned controller who asked me if I was assigned a heading prior to takeoff. I proceeded to climb to 3000 ft during our conversation. I did notice traffic in front of my aircraft, 600 ft below and off to the left of my nose on the TCASII. I climbed to 3200 ft for better separation while continuing to talk to departure. He informed me of the traffic at 2000 ft and climbing to 3000 ft. I was instructed to climb to 4000 ft. Later, I was instructed to call ATC and did so. I was informed that there would be an investigation due to a lack of separation. After returning home, I began to scour through the FARS, trying to find information as to what I may have done wrong. I contacted my IFR instructor and explained the event. I have come to the conclusion that I should have asked for a heading prior to takeoff rather than assuming that I was cleared to turn out, and I should have reminded tower that I was departing 'IFR' when I called up to announce that I was ready for takeoff. I do believe that the johnson county controllers are among the best in the nation and I am very concerned that the control tower at ojc may be reprimanded for my lack of experience. I have about 6 actual IFR trips under my belt.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHEN HANDED OFF TO DEP CTL, A PLT DISCOVERS THAT SEPARATION HAS BEEN LOST PROBABLY BECAUSE OF A TURN TO A HDG DIRECT TO THE DEST ARPT WHICH WAS HOW THE CLRNC GIVEN WAS UNDERSTOOD.

Narrative: I FILED IFR FROM OJC DIRECT TO 0V3. I RECEIVED MY CLRNC PRIOR TO TAXIING TO RWY 18. WAS CLRED DIRECT TO 0V3, CLB TO 3000 FT, EXPECT 6000 FT 10 MINS AFTER, FREQ 118.9 AND SQUAWK XXXX. AFTER RUN-UP, I PULLED UP TO THE LINE READY FOR TKOF. I CALLED TWR, AND DECLARED READY FOR TKOF. TWR RESPONDED, AND I RESPONDED 'CLRED FOR TKOF.' I RECEIVED NO CORRECTION FROM TWR CONCERNING A HDG. I CLBED OUT TO 500 FT AND DUE TO THE LACK OF AN ASSIGNED HDG, I TURNED OUT TO MY DEST HDG OF 294 DEGS. TWR CALLED AND INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTACT KANSAS CITY DEP. I WENT TO DEP CTL AND WAS GREETED BY A VERY CONCERNED CTLR WHO ASKED ME IF I WAS ASSIGNED A HDG PRIOR TO TKOF. I PROCEEDED TO CLB TO 3000 FT DURING OUR CONVERSATION. I DID NOTICE TFC IN FRONT OF MY ACFT, 600 FT BELOW AND OFF TO THE L OF MY NOSE ON THE TCASII. I CLBED TO 3200 FT FOR BETTER SEPARATION WHILE CONTINUING TO TALK TO DEP. HE INFORMED ME OF THE TFC AT 2000 FT AND CLBING TO 3000 FT. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CLB TO 4000 FT. LATER, I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CALL ATC AND DID SO. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION DUE TO A LACK OF SEPARATION. AFTER RETURNING HOME, I BEGAN TO SCOUR THROUGH THE FARS, TRYING TO FIND INFO AS TO WHAT I MAY HAVE DONE WRONG. I CONTACTED MY IFR INSTRUCTOR AND EXPLAINED THE EVENT. I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT I SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR A HDG PRIOR TO TKOF RATHER THAN ASSUMING THAT I WAS CLRED TO TURN OUT, AND I SHOULD HAVE REMINDED TWR THAT I WAS DEPARTING 'IFR' WHEN I CALLED UP TO ANNOUNCE THAT I WAS READY FOR TKOF. I DO BELIEVE THAT THE JOHNSON COUNTY CTLRS ARE AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION AND I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE CTL TWR AT OJC MAY BE REPRIMANDED FOR MY LACK OF EXPERIENCE. I HAVE ABOUT 6 ACTUAL IFR TRIPS UNDER MY BELT.

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.