GA small aircraft unauthorized takeoff from pae.

Attributes
ACN	108710
Time
Date	198904
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pae
State Reference	WA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pae
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : holding
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3000
ASRS Report	108710
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe incursion : runway non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At takeoff from pain field as a flight of 2, the other pilot misinterpreted my hand signal as a clearance to takeoff, making an unauthorized takeoff. We had been waiting to takeoff from runway 29 for about 3 mins, on the runway in a hold position. The tower approved takeoff approximately 10-15 seconds after the other aircraft lifted off the runway. Other aircraft's radio was intermittent. I was doing the radio communications for both aircraft. I was advised to phone the tower as soon as possible. The problem was enhanced by the other pilot's radio. This radio became intermittent as we were preparing for takeoff. We had agreed that I would do the radio communications with the tower as a flight of 2. I had not advised the tower of the radio problem. I believe that I should have advised the tower of the radio problem and ask for a light signal for takeoff clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA UNAUTH TKOF FROM PAE.

Narrative: AT TKOF FROM PAIN FIELD AS A FLT OF 2, THE OTHER PLT MISINTERPRETED MY HAND SIGNAL AS A CLRNC TO TKOF, MAKING AN UNAUTH TKOF. WE HAD BEEN WAITING TO TKOF FROM RWY 29 FOR ABOUT 3 MINS, ON THE RWY IN A HOLD POS. THE TWR APPROVED TKOF APPROX 10-15 SECS AFTER THE OTHER ACFT LIFTED OFF THE RWY. OTHER ACFT'S RADIO WAS INTERMITTENT. I WAS DOING THE RADIO COMS FOR BOTH ACFT. I WAS ADVISED TO PHONE THE TWR ASAP. THE PROB WAS ENHANCED BY THE OTHER PLT'S RADIO. THIS RADIO BECAME INTERMITTENT AS WE WERE PREPARING FOR TKOF. WE HAD AGREED THAT I WOULD DO THE RADIO COMS WITH THE TWR AS A FLT OF 2. I HAD NOT ADVISED THE TWR OF THE RADIO PROB. I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD HAVE ADVISED THE TWR OF THE RADIO PROB AND ASK FOR A LIGHT SIGNAL FOR TKOF CLRNC.

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.