Air carrier was released for takeoff after the tower closed by FSS without approval from ARTCC.

Attributes
ACN	128389
Time
Date	198911
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : jan
State Reference	MS
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
ASRS Report	128389
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure other

Narrative:

How the problem arose: air carrier X received a clearance 10 min before the tower closed for the night. Most of the time this flight will make it and before the tower is closed. About 3 months ago they (air carrier X) moved the pushback time from XA45L to XA50L so it has been a little close getting them off on time before the tower closes. (The tower closes at SB00L.) at XB59 the pilot was advised that tower was closing and he would have to get a release from jan FSS when he was ready. The pilot asked if we could stay open and was advised that we couldn't. FSS was called and advised the air carrier X had a clearance but had a hold for release and they would have to call center for a release. Now it was discovered as I was getting ready to leave the tower I turned on a backup radio to make sure FSS got the release. When they told air carrier X that he could depart at his discretion, it didn't sound to me like center had given FSS any departure instructions. At that time I called center to see if FSS had got a release. They didn't know anything about the aircraft, but there would be no problem if he departed. Corrective actions: the next time air carrier X is late pushing back late his clearance will be cancelled. I have never had a problem with FSS not knowing what hold for release meant before and this FSS may not know how to get a release but I'm sure they know how to get a clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WAS RELEASED FOR TKOF AFTER THE TWR CLOSED BY FSS WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM ARTCC.

Narrative: HOW THE PROBLEM AROSE: ACR X RECEIVED A CLRNC 10 MIN BEFORE THE TWR CLOSED FOR THE NIGHT. MOST OF THE TIME THIS FLT WILL MAKE IT AND BEFORE THE TWR IS CLOSED. ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO THEY (ACR X) MOVED THE PUSHBACK TIME FROM XA45L TO XA50L SO IT HAS BEEN A LITTLE CLOSE GETTING THEM OFF ON TIME BEFORE THE TWR CLOSES. (THE TWR CLOSES AT SB00L.) AT XB59 THE PLT WAS ADVISED THAT TWR WAS CLOSING AND HE WOULD HAVE TO GET A RELEASE FROM JAN FSS WHEN HE WAS READY. THE PLT ASKED IF WE COULD STAY OPEN AND WAS ADVISED THAT WE COULDN'T. FSS WAS CALLED AND ADVISED THE ACR X HAD A CLRNC BUT HAD A HOLD FOR RELEASE AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO CALL CENTER FOR A RELEASE. NOW IT WAS DISCOVERED AS I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE THE TWR I TURNED ON A BACKUP RADIO TO MAKE SURE FSS GOT THE RELEASE. WHEN THEY TOLD ACR X THAT HE COULD DEPART AT HIS DISCRETION, IT DIDN'T SOUND TO ME LIKE CENTER HAD GIVEN FSS ANY DEP INSTRUCTIONS. AT THAT TIME I CALLED CENTER TO SEE IF FSS HAD GOT A RELEASE. THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE ACFT, BUT THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM IF HE DEPARTED. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: THE NEXT TIME ACR X IS LATE PUSHING BACK LATE HIS CLRNC WILL BE CANCELLED. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH FSS NOT KNOWING WHAT HOLD FOR RELEASE MEANT BEFORE AND THIS FSS MAY NOT KNOW HOW TO GET A RELEASE BUT I'M SURE THEY KNOW HOW TO GET A 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.