Narrative:

I had a release time of XA31 for small aircraft aircraft X. I released the aircraft at XA28. As the aircraft was taking off the error was noted. I had the aircraft make a left turn to remain in the local area. I kept the aircraft in sight, and in my airspace which goes up to 2500'. When the aircraft was downwind I told him to extend for IFR spacing. At XA31 I had the aircraft turn left to a heading of 260 degrees. At XA31+20 I asked the pilot for a base report. The aircraft was in sight, below the clouds, and just east of the approach end of runway 26. The pilot said he was not in them yet. About 5 seconds later the pilot said they looked like they were at 2300'. Then I shipped the aircraft to departure.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IFR SMA ACFT ALLOWED TO DEPART 3 MINUTES BEFORE RELEASE TIME. HELD IN TRAFFIC PATTERN UNTIL PROPER TIME. OPERATIONAL DEVIATION.

Narrative: I HAD A RELEASE TIME OF XA31 FOR SMA ACFT X. I RELEASED THE ACFT AT XA28. AS THE ACFT WAS TAKING OFF THE ERROR WAS NOTED. I HAD THE ACFT MAKE A LEFT TURN TO REMAIN IN THE LCL AREA. I KEPT THE ACFT IN SIGHT, AND IN MY AIRSPACE WHICH GOES UP TO 2500'. WHEN THE ACFT WAS DOWNWIND I TOLD HIM TO EXTEND FOR IFR SPACING. AT XA31 I HAD THE ACFT TURN LEFT TO A HDG OF 260 DEGS. AT XA31+20 I ASKED THE PLT FOR A BASE RPT. THE ACFT WAS IN SIGHT, BELOW THE CLOUDS, AND JUST E OF THE APCH END OF RWY 26. THE PLT SAID HE WAS NOT IN THEM YET. ABOUT 5 SECS LATER THE PLT SAID THEY LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE AT 2300'. THEN I SHIPPED THE ACFT TO DEP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.