Mem controller issued an IFR clearance to an aircraft that was below the MVA at the time of issuance...

Narrative:

I was working mem departure radar; when a cherokee (PA28); who had just departed a satellite airport; called to pick up a pre-filed IFR clearance. Once I had issued a beacon code and radar-identified the aircraft; I discovered he was at 1600MSL; but was in a 2500FT MVA (minimum vectoring altitude) area; and was headed toward the obstructions for which the MVA was created. Also; there were thunderstorms north of mem; and I was unsure of the pilot's flight conditions. So; I issued the IFR clearance and a turn northeast-bound; away from the antennas and the mem departure corridor. Later; the scenario was reviewed; and I was informed I'd been involved in an operational error. Apparently; I should have either: a. Asked the pilot if he could maintain VFR until 2500 (unknown if this was possible) or B. Not issued a heading until the aircraft left 2500; but that would have allowed him to possibly stray too close to the mem departure corridor. In this case; I feel I followed the intent; but maybe not the letter; of the law.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MEM Controller issued an IFR clearance to an aircraft that was below the MVA at the time of issuance; resulting in an operational error.

Narrative: I was working MEM Departure Radar; when a Cherokee (PA28); who had just departed a satellite airport; called to pick up a pre-filed IFR clearance. Once I had issued a beacon code and radar-identified the aircraft; I discovered he was at 1600MSL; but was in a 2500FT MVA (minimum vectoring altitude) area; and was headed toward the obstructions for which the MVA was created. Also; there were thunderstorms north of MEM; and I was unsure of the pilot's flight conditions. So; I issued the IFR clearance and a turn northeast-bound; away from the antennas and the MEM departure corridor. Later; the scenario was reviewed; and I was informed I'd been involved in an operational error. Apparently; I should have either: A. asked the pilot if he could maintain VFR until 2500 (unknown if this was possible) or B. not issued a heading until the aircraft left 2500; but that would have allowed him to possibly stray too close to the MEM departure corridor. In this case; I feel I followed the intent; but maybe not the letter; of the law.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	837575
Time
Date	200906
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	MEM.TRACON
State Reference	TN
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Departure
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Radar 23
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Miss Distance	Vertical 100

Mem controller issued an IFR clearance to an aircraft that was below the MVA at the time of issuance; resulting in an operational error.