Narrative:

After starting the engine, I noticed a flapping noise and saw for the first time a card tied to an assist handle on the left front side of the plane. I slowed down the RPM's and retrieved the card but did not examine it in detail. I immediately departed from drt for alpine, tx. It was only after arriving in alpine that I was able to read the aircraft condition notice in detail including the fine print. It was then I discovered that I needed a variance to fly the plane from del rio to alpine. I ask that the following be taken into consideration in regard to any violation of FARS: 1) I am a new pilot, receiving my private pilot's license in 10/88 (see copy). 2) I have only 101 hours flying experience and was at the time of the occurrence unfamiliar with the aircraft condition notice and especially with its seriousness. 3) I assumed my plane was in good condition since it was annualed in 11/88 (see copy of log book entry). 4) the notice was not attached to my door lock and was not red-tagged to indicate its seriousness about a condition that would ground my plane. 5) I was anxious to return to duties after being delayed for 5 hours due to marginal WX. I fully intend to repair the plane and to remedy the conditions listed on the aircraft condition notice as soon as possible. I will not attempt to fly the plane until the conditions considered unsuitable are remedied. The plane is currently stationed at the alpine, tx, airport and has not been flown since returning from drt in 2/89.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPORTER FLEW HIS ACFT NOT KNOWING THAT IT HAD BEEN GNDED.

Narrative: AFTER STARTING THE ENG, I NOTICED A FLAPPING NOISE AND SAW FOR THE FIRST TIME A CARD TIED TO AN ASSIST HANDLE ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF THE PLANE. I SLOWED DOWN THE RPM'S AND RETRIEVED THE CARD BUT DID NOT EXAMINE IT IN DETAIL. I IMMEDIATELY DEPARTED FROM DRT FOR ALPINE, TX. IT WAS ONLY AFTER ARRIVING IN ALPINE THAT I WAS ABLE TO READ THE ACFT CONDITION NOTICE IN DETAIL INCLUDING THE FINE PRINT. IT WAS THEN I DISCOVERED THAT I NEEDED A VARIANCE TO FLY THE PLANE FROM DEL RIO TO ALPINE. I ASK THAT THE FOLLOWING BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION IN REGARD TO ANY VIOLATION OF FARS: 1) I AM A NEW PLT, RECEIVING MY PVT PLT'S LICENSE IN 10/88 (SEE COPY). 2) I HAVE ONLY 101 HRS FLYING EXPERIENCE AND WAS AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE ACFT CONDITION NOTICE AND ESPECIALLY WITH ITS SERIOUSNESS. 3) I ASSUMED MY PLANE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION SINCE IT WAS ANNUALED IN 11/88 (SEE COPY OF LOG BOOK ENTRY). 4) THE NOTICE WAS NOT ATTACHED TO MY DOOR LOCK AND WAS NOT RED-TAGGED TO INDICATE ITS SERIOUSNESS ABOUT A CONDITION THAT WOULD GND MY PLANE. 5) I WAS ANXIOUS TO RETURN TO DUTIES AFTER BEING DELAYED FOR 5 HRS DUE TO MARGINAL WX. I FULLY INTEND TO REPAIR THE PLANE AND TO REMEDY THE CONDITIONS LISTED ON THE ACFT CONDITION NOTICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO FLY THE PLANE UNTIL THE CONDITIONS CONSIDERED UNSUITABLE ARE REMEDIED. THE PLANE IS CURRENTLY STATIONED AT THE ALPINE, TX, ARPT AND HAS NOT BEEN FLOWN SINCE RETURNING FROM DRT IN 2/89.

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.