A pilot departed a CTAF airport near ZZZ during a presidential tfr after receiving an IFR clearance;...

Narrative:

I had flown in to this CTAF airport near ZZZ from my home airport that morning for the purpose of servicing my car that I keep at the airport. I was aware that there was a presidential tfr in effect for the ZZZ area which included my destination airport. I used flight following on an assigned transponder code; which I used all the way in to my destination. This was a departure from the norm; as I am usually instructed to squawk 1200 when descending in to this airport. So I was very aware of the tfr. I normally do not file flight plans; electing rather to utilize flight following. I hadn't filed a formal flight plan for a couple of years. However; as I prepared for my return flight to my home airport; I telephoned flight service to file a VFR flight plan and get a transponder code to allow me to depart the airport inside the tfr area.I filed the plan with the briefer; but when I asked for a code; she told me I would have to call [the TRACON] to get the code and gave me the number which I subsequently called. On my first call; I was told I would have to call back. I don't recall exactly the sequence of events that I was required to do; but I called back ten minutes later and spoke with a controller; told him where I was; that I had filed a VFR flight plan; but needed a transponder code to exit the tfr. He asked me to hold for a moment; came back on the line and said that he didn't see the flight plan. I told him I had just filed it and that I hadn't opened it because I was still on the ground. He then told me that since I was flying west out of the tfr; just to call approach as soon as I was airborne and that I would be fine.I departed and made a left downwind departure. I started calling [approach] as soon as I was airborne; as instructed; and once I reached about 3;000 ft or so and about 2 miles from the airport; I reached [the TRACON]. I identified my flight; told them where I had departed and needed flight following. I was given a transponder code and continued my flight. A few minutes later; the [TRACON] controller called me and told me to advise when I was ready to copy a number to call when I got to my destination. I copied the number and confirmed that I was to call when I reached. A minute or two later; [the TRACON] called me again and said never mind; that they had figured out what was going on and that I didn't have to call. I acknowledged and told him that I had called them before I left.I continued my flight with no further drama. I did not file a NASA form at the time; as I thought that everything was ok. About a month later; I received a letter telling me that I was under investigation for busting the tfr. I have flown in and out of that airport under tfr's several times; but not under a presidential tfr. On those other occasions; I easily received a discrete code by calling [the TRACON]. In the future; I will file an IFR flight plan and get the code that way. I should have done it then; but thought that I was following the correct procedures. I will also get names from each of the people that I talk to in case of later difficulty. It was not ignorant of the tfr; but following errant instructions that got me in to trouble. I will know better to question things that I think may not be right.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A pilot departed a CTAF airport near ZZZ during a Presidential TFR after receiving an IFR clearance; but no transponder code. After takeoff while requesting a code; he was questioned by ATC about his behavior and later received a letter of investigation.

Narrative: I had flown in to this CTAF airport near ZZZ from my home airport that morning for the purpose of servicing my car that I keep at the airport. I was aware that there was a Presidential TFR in effect for the ZZZ area which included my destination airport. I used Flight Following on an assigned transponder code; which I used all the way in to my destination. This was a departure from the norm; as I am usually instructed to squawk 1200 when descending in to this airport. So I was very aware of the TFR. I normally do not file flight plans; electing rather to utilize Flight Following. I hadn't filed a formal flight plan for a couple of years. However; as I prepared for my return flight to my home airport; I telephoned Flight Service to file a VFR flight plan and get a transponder code to allow me to depart the airport inside the TFR area.I filed the plan with the Briefer; but when I asked for a code; she told me I would have to call [the TRACON] to get the code and gave me the number which I subsequently called. On my first call; I was told I would have to call back. I don't recall exactly the sequence of events that I was required to do; but I called back ten minutes later and spoke with a Controller; told him where I was; that I had filed a VFR flight plan; but needed a transponder code to exit the TFR. He asked me to hold for a moment; came back on the line and said that he didn't see the flight plan. I told him I had just filed it and that I hadn't opened it because I was still on the ground. He then told me that since I was flying west out of the TFR; just to call Approach as soon as I was airborne and that I would be fine.I departed and made a left downwind departure. I started calling [Approach] as soon as I was airborne; as instructed; and once I reached about 3;000 FT or so and about 2 miles from the airport; I reached [the TRACON]. I identified my flight; told them where I had departed and needed flight following. I was given a transponder code and continued my flight. A few minutes later; the [TRACON] Controller called me and told me to advise when I was ready to copy a number to call when I got to my destination. I copied the number and confirmed that I was to call when I reached. A minute or two later; [the TRACON] called me again and said never mind; that they had figured out what was going on and that I didn't have to call. I acknowledged and told him that I had called them before I left.I continued my flight with no further drama. I did not file a NASA form at the time; as I thought that everything was OK. About a month later; I received a letter telling me that I was under investigation for busting the TFR. I have flown in and out of that airport under TFR's several times; but not under a Presidential TFR. On those other occasions; I easily received a discrete code by calling [the TRACON]. In the future; I will file an IFR flight plan and get the code that way. I should have done it then; but thought that I was following the correct procedures. I will also get names from each of the people that I talk to in case of later difficulty. It was not ignorant of the TFR; but following errant instructions that got me in to trouble. I will know better to question things that I think may not be right.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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	1158731
Time
Date	201402
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.TRACON
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Private Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 8 Flight Crew Total 1050 Flight Crew Type 825
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

A pilot departed a CTAF airport near ZZZ during a presidential tfr after receiving an IFR clearance; but no transponder code. After takeoff while requesting a code; he was questioned by ATC about his behavior and later received a letter of investigation.