An antique small aircraft took off without tower clearance.

Attributes
ACN	251808
Time
Date	199309
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : vgt
State Reference	NV
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : vgt
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 2382 flight time type : 3
ASRS Report	251808
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I and the second person in my aircraft were trying to contact the tower for takeoff clearance on handheld radios as the 1947 aircraft has no electrical system. We were having trouble contacting the tower. I thought I heard a clearance for takeoff and made my takeoff. I was then questioned by the tower, while in the pattern, if I heard a clearance for takeoff. I said I had. I may have heard the other person in my aircraft calling for takeoff.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ANTIQUE SMA TOOK OFF WITHOUT TWR CLRNC.

Narrative: I AND THE SECOND PERSON IN MY ACFT WERE TRYING TO CONTACT THE TWR FOR TKOF CLRNC ON HANDHELD RADIOS AS THE 1947 ACFT HAS NO ELECTRICAL SYS. WE WERE HAVING TROUBLE CONTACTING THE TWR. I THOUGHT I HEARD A CLRNC FOR TKOF AND MADE MY TKOF. I WAS THEN QUESTIONED BY THE TWR, WHILE IN THE PATTERN, IF I HEARD A CLRNC FOR TKOF. I SAID I HAD. I MAY HAVE HEARD THE OTHER PERSON IN MY ACFT CALLING FOR TKOF.

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.