Narrative:

At the time of departure preparation #2 pilot of 3 aircraft flight briefed the other 2 pilots of departure instructions per ATIS, which he reported as monitor tower and follow other aircraft. Runway 9 was being used by other aircraft. I was in lead aircraft and we had pushed our aircraft to a point close to the runway area. All aircraft of flight were started and we taxied to run-up area with lead aircraft monitoring tower frequency 124.5. Run-ups were done and all preparations for flight were completed for the 3 ship flight. The expected flagman from ATC was not present at the departure runway. The lead aircraft (myself) attempted to contact lakeland tower on published tower frequency 124.5 with no response. Another aircraft attempted to contact lakeland tower also with no response. Flight leader again attempted to contact lakeland control tower on 124.5 for departure clearance. Once again no response. After checking for traffic on final and in the departure path, the lead aircraft (myself) and the flight taxied into takeoff position and departed with no ATC clearance. No collision hazard existed, however, no clearance was received. Cause of incident: pilot error -- flight leader did not listen to ATIS personally to assure accuracy of instructions. ATIS had instructed aircraft to monitor 121.4 ground control frequency for instructions. #2 aircraft heard other aircraft receiving clearance on 121.4. Tower frequency not monitored -- the published tower frequency should be monitored at all times during published operating hours. Published tower hours were 0630- 2130. Flag or ATC personnel controling traffic with flags -- these people should be present anytime the special procedures are in effect to limit confusion.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT OF 3 EXPERIMENTAL ACFT DEPART WITHOUT CLRNC AT SPECIAL EVENT.

Narrative: AT THE TIME OF DEP PREPARATION #2 PLT OF 3 ACFT FLT BRIEFED THE OTHER 2 PLTS OF DEP INSTRUCTIONS PER ATIS, WHICH HE RPTED AS MONITOR TWR AND FOLLOW OTHER ACFT. RWY 9 WAS BEING USED BY OTHER ACFT. I WAS IN LEAD ACFT AND WE HAD PUSHED OUR ACFT TO A POINT CLOSE TO THE RWY AREA. ALL ACFT OF FLT WERE STARTED AND WE TAXIED TO RUN-UP AREA WITH LEAD ACFT MONITORING TWR FREQ 124.5. RUN-UPS WERE DONE AND ALL PREPARATIONS FOR FLT WERE COMPLETED FOR THE 3 SHIP FLT. THE EXPECTED FLAGMAN FROM ATC WAS NOT PRESENT AT THE DEP RWY. THE LEAD ACFT (MYSELF) ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT LAKELAND TWR ON PUBLISHED TWR FREQ 124.5 WITH NO RESPONSE. ANOTHER ACFT ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT LAKELAND TWR ALSO WITH NO RESPONSE. FLT LEADER AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT LAKELAND CTL TWR ON 124.5 FOR DEP CLRNC. ONCE AGAIN NO RESPONSE. AFTER CHKING FOR TFC ON FINAL AND IN THE DEP PATH, THE LEAD ACFT (MYSELF) AND THE FLT TAXIED INTO TKOF POS AND DEPARTED WITH NO ATC CLRNC. NO COLLISION HAZARD EXISTED, HOWEVER, NO CLRNC WAS RECEIVED. CAUSE OF INCIDENT: PLT ERROR -- FLT LEADER DID NOT LISTEN TO ATIS PERSONALLY TO ASSURE ACCURACY OF INSTRUCTIONS. ATIS HAD INSTRUCTED ACFT TO MONITOR 121.4 GND CTL FREQ FOR INSTRUCTIONS. #2 ACFT HEARD OTHER ACFT RECEIVING CLRNC ON 121.4. TWR FREQ NOT MONITORED -- THE PUBLISHED TWR FREQ SHOULD BE MONITORED AT ALL TIMES DURING PUBLISHED OPERATING HRS. PUBLISHED TWR HRS WERE 0630- 2130. FLAG OR ATC PERSONNEL CTLING TFC WITH FLAGS -- THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE PRESENT ANYTIME THE SPECIAL PROCS ARE IN EFFECT TO LIMIT CONFUSION.

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.