Small aircraft pilot takes off on closed runway at closed airport in a night operation.

Attributes
ACN	215737
Time
Date	199207
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ipt
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : holding ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 2300
ASRS Report	215737
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

En route IFR from teb to jhw IFR. Encountered several severe thunderstorms south and southwest of williamsport. Changed destination and landed without incident IFR. 10-15 mins after landing, lightning struck airport and made landing runway lights (and ILS) inoperative. FSS by airport contacted airport manager who 'closed the airport.' attempts by me to again contact airport manager failed 30 mins later (after thunderstorms passed), I filed IFR plan to jhw -- I was advised by FSS that airport was closed. Then they accepted flight plan. I taxied entire length of runway and felt that there was no risk of departure since the lights (and airplane landing light) provided adequate reference points. Obtained IFR clearance on ground (ATC also advised me airport was closed but gave me clearance). Departed without incident. I contend that 1) airport was normally uncontrolled (tower was not operational at that time anyway), 2) no risk was taken to self or property, 3) no rules were broken.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT TAKES OFF ON CLOSED RWY AT CLOSED ARPT IN A NIGHT OP.

Narrative: ENRTE IFR FROM TEB TO JHW IFR. ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL SEVERE TSTMS S AND SW OF WILLIAMSPORT. CHANGED DEST AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT IFR. 10-15 MINS AFTER LNDG, LIGHTNING STRUCK ARPT AND MADE LNDG RWY LIGHTS (AND ILS) INOP. FSS BY ARPT CONTACTED ARPT MGR WHO 'CLOSED THE ARPT.' ATTEMPTS BY ME TO AGAIN CONTACT ARPT MGR FAILED 30 MINS LATER (AFTER TSTMS PASSED), I FILED IFR PLAN TO JHW -- I WAS ADVISED BY FSS THAT ARPT WAS CLOSED. THEN THEY ACCEPTED FLT PLAN. I TAXIED ENTIRE LENGTH OF RWY AND FELT THAT THERE WAS NO RISK OF DEP SINCE THE LIGHTS (AND AIRPLANE LNDG LIGHT) PROVIDED ADEQUATE REF POINTS. OBTAINED IFR CLRNC ON GND (ATC ALSO ADVISED ME ARPT WAS CLOSED BUT GAVE ME CLRNC). DEPARTED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I CONTEND THAT 1) ARPT WAS NORMALLY UNCTLED (TWR WAS NOT OPERATIONAL AT THAT TIME ANYWAY), 2) NO RISK WAS TAKEN TO SELF OR PROPERTY, 3) NO RULES WERE BROKEN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.