Narrative:

I was first officer on an aircraft to be flown from mer to san. At the departure end of runway 31; we observed workers who were conducting vegetation maintenance. The workers moved the equipment and vehicles well clear of the runway. We attempted to contact unicom without success. It appeared that we had been given the runway for departure. We were given our release from norcal; took the runway and initiated takeoff. While rolling through vr; an aircraft Y advised the runway was notamed closed. Upon contact with norcal departure; they advised runway was closed. We advised that we thought we had been ok'ed to use the runway. Supplemental information from acn 698940: during the takeoff; there was no conflict with any workers or vehicles in the vicinity of the runway.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLT CREW DEPARTS A CLOSED RWY AN UNCTLED ARPT.

Narrative: I WAS FO ON AN ACFT TO BE FLOWN FROM MER TO SAN. AT THE DEP END OF RWY 31; WE OBSERVED WORKERS WHO WERE CONDUCTING VEGETATION MAINT. THE WORKERS MOVED THE EQUIP AND VEHICLES WELL CLR OF THE RWY. WE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT UNICOM WITHOUT SUCCESS. IT APPEARED THAT WE HAD BEEN GIVEN THE RWY FOR DEP. WE WERE GIVEN OUR RELEASE FROM NORCAL; TOOK THE RWY AND INITIATED TKOF. WHILE ROLLING THROUGH VR; AN ACFT Y ADVISED THE RWY WAS NOTAMED CLOSED. UPON CONTACT WITH NORCAL DEP; THEY ADVISED RWY WAS CLOSED. WE ADVISED THAT WE THOUGHT WE HAD BEEN OK'ED TO USE THE RWY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 698940: DURING THE TKOF; THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH ANY WORKERS OR VEHICLES IN THE VICINITY OF THE RWY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.