C340 pilot departed aao on an IFR flight plan without an IFR release.

Attributes
ACN	425454
Time
Date	199901
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : aao
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 500 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Cessna 340/340A
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3600 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	425454
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : clearance delivery
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Called clearance delivery on ground. Received clearance. Initially told, hold for release, then given frequency to call on departure. Then told to call same frequency when ready. Believed clearance delivery meant to call when airborne, as normal procedure at home base mle. I was VFR (VMC) and called departure at 500 ft AGL. I was able to maintain VFR and avoid any traffic -- none observed. Approach/departure controller was upset that I didn't call him prior to takeoff. I would not have departed if clearance was more precise. I was given departure frequency to contact in my clearance. Then given same frequency to call (I thought) when off airport. I now believe he meant for me to call departure frequency for release on ground. At mle, clearance delivery is approach control. They frequently release us to work CTAF on departure and request we call departure upon entering controled airspace. In the future, I will ensure I question the clearance controller when I am unsure about the release and when to contact departure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C340 PLT DEPARTED AAO ON AN IFR FLT PLAN WITHOUT AN IFR RELEASE.

Narrative: CALLED CLRNC DELIVERY ON GND. RECEIVED CLRNC. INITIALLY TOLD, HOLD FOR RELEASE, THEN GIVEN FREQ TO CALL ON DEP. THEN TOLD TO CALL SAME FREQ WHEN READY. BELIEVED CLRNC DELIVERY MEANT TO CALL WHEN AIRBORNE, AS NORMAL PROC AT HOME BASE MLE. I WAS VFR (VMC) AND CALLED DEP AT 500 FT AGL. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR AND AVOID ANY TFC -- NONE OBSERVED. APCH/DEP CTLR WAS UPSET THAT I DIDN'T CALL HIM PRIOR TO TKOF. I WOULD NOT HAVE DEPARTED IF CLRNC WAS MORE PRECISE. I WAS GIVEN DEP FREQ TO CONTACT IN MY CLRNC. THEN GIVEN SAME FREQ TO CALL (I THOUGHT) WHEN OFF ARPT. I NOW BELIEVE HE MEANT FOR ME TO CALL DEP FREQ FOR RELEASE ON GND. AT MLE, CLRNC DELIVERY IS APCH CTL. THEY FREQUENTLY RELEASE US TO WORK CTAF ON DEP AND REQUEST WE CALL DEP UPON ENTERING CTLED AIRSPACE. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL ENSURE I QUESTION THE CLRNC CTLR WHEN I AM UNSURE ABOUT THE RELEASE AND WHEN TO CONTACT DEP.

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.