Narrative:

On initial climb out; tower requested us to change our transponder code. Since I did not see the ACARS predep clearance sitting on the center console; I requested another ACARS clearance. We had both a maintenance and load issue prior to leaving the gate; and although both the first officer and I thought we had received and reviewed the clearance during preflight; since I could not find the pre departure clearance hard copy; I pulled up another one. I will also include the physical copy of the pre departure clearance in my response to 'logbook and flight forms' as a second check in the future to preclude the possibility of departing without a pre departure clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 CREW FAILED TO REQUEST A PDC PRIOR TO DEP AND TOOK OFF WITHOUT THE CORRECT XPONDER CODE.

Narrative: ON INITIAL CLBOUT; TWR REQUESTED US TO CHANGE OUR XPONDER CODE. SINCE I DID NOT SEE THE ACARS PREDEP CLRNC SITTING ON THE CTR CONSOLE; I REQUESTED ANOTHER ACARS CLRNC. WE HAD BOTH A MAINT AND LOAD ISSUE PRIOR TO LEAVING THE GATE; AND ALTHOUGH BOTH THE FO AND I THOUGHT WE HAD RECEIVED AND REVIEWED THE CLRNC DURING PREFLT; SINCE I COULD NOT FIND THE PDC HARD COPY; I PULLED UP ANOTHER ONE. I WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE PHYSICAL COPY OF THE PDC IN MY RESPONSE TO 'LOGBOOK AND FLT FORMS' AS A SECOND CHK IN THE FUTURE TO PRECLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF DEPARTING WITHOUT A PDC.

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.