Narrative:

I tuned in the lbe ATIS and discovered that the current WX was below our landing minimums and had been that way since approximately XA45 local. We requested and received a hold at the benji NDB. At approximately XC20 local, the lbe tower advised that the WX had increased to our landing minimums and we then performed 2 unsuccessful ILS approachs before a third ILS was successful. Far 135.219 states in part that 'no person may take off an aircraft under IFR unless the latest WX reports or forecast indicate that WX conditions at the estimated time of arrival will be at or above authority/authorized landing minimums.' our pit departure was not until XB25 local and the lbe WX was and had been below our landing minimums for 40 mins. I was PIC of that flight and my operating policy is such that the PF will calculate the weight and balance, receive WX information from the company computer system, and receive the IFR clearance. The PNF will be responsible for loading and securing passenger, cargo, and aircraft. As I was loading passenger for the flight, the first officer did his duties except, when he attempted to receive WX, the computer was 'signed out' or, in other words, it was unable to produce the WX report. I was unaware of this circumstance. We had received lbe WX at approximately XA00 local and the current and forecast throughout the forecast period was for VFR. On this assumption we taxied and departed for lbe. Even though duties and responsibilities may be delegated by the PIC, he or she, in the end, is responsible for everything. In the future I will be more diligent about every aspect as it pertains to each flight.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LTT TOOK OFF WITHOUT A CURRENT WX RPT.

Narrative: I TUNED IN THE LBE ATIS AND DISCOVERED THAT THE CURRENT WX WAS BELOW OUR LNDG MINIMUMS AND HAD BEEN THAT WAY SINCE APPROX XA45 LCL. WE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED A HOLD AT THE BENJI NDB. AT APPROX XC20 LCL, THE LBE TWR ADVISED THAT THE WX HAD INCREASED TO OUR LNDG MINIMUMS AND WE THEN PERFORMED 2 UNSUCCESSFUL ILS APCHS BEFORE A THIRD ILS WAS SUCCESSFUL. FAR 135.219 STATES IN PART THAT 'NO PERSON MAY TAKE OFF AN ACFT UNDER IFR UNLESS THE LATEST WX RPTS OR FORECAST INDICATE THAT WX CONDITIONS AT THE ESTIMATED TIME OF ARR WILL BE AT OR ABOVE AUTH LNDG MINIMUMS.' OUR PIT DEP WAS NOT UNTIL XB25 LCL AND THE LBE WX WAS AND HAD BEEN BELOW OUR LNDG MINIMUMS FOR 40 MINS. I WAS PIC OF THAT FLT AND MY OPERATING POLICY IS SUCH THAT THE PF WILL CALCULATE THE WT AND BAL, RECEIVE WX INFO FROM THE COMPANY COMPUTER SYS, AND RECEIVE THE IFR CLRNC. THE PNF WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOADING AND SECURING PAX, CARGO, AND ACFT. AS I WAS LOADING PAX FOR THE FLT, THE FO DID HIS DUTIES EXCEPT, WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO RECEIVE WX, THE COMPUTER WAS 'SIGNED OUT' OR, IN OTHER WORDS, IT WAS UNABLE TO PRODUCE THE WX RPT. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS CIRCUMSTANCE. WE HAD RECEIVED LBE WX AT APPROX XA00 LCL AND THE CURRENT AND FORECAST THROUGHOUT THE FORECAST PERIOD WAS FOR VFR. ON THIS ASSUMPTION WE TAXIED AND DEPARTED FOR LBE. EVEN THOUGH DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES MAY BE DELEGATED BY THE PIC, HE OR SHE, IN THE END, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING. IN THE FUTURE I WILL BE MORE DILIGENT ABOUT EVERY ASPECT AS IT PERTAINS TO EACH FLT.

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.