B737 departed phl with an open log item.

Attributes
ACN	485120
Time
Date	200009
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : cle.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-500
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi ground : takeoff roll ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2300
ASRS Report	485120
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 11500 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	484886
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : repair performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

During the preflight, I checked the cabin logbook to find no write-ups, but for some reason did not check the aircraft maintenance log. I left that to the captain (my first mistake). He apparently looked at it quickly, but did not notice that there was an open write-up. The write-up was the outboard landing light on the left wing was inoperative. It was left the night before for contract maintenance in phl. But for some reason it was never taken care of. We departed phl and proceeded en route to cleveland and didn't known about it until we arrived when maintenance came out to the aircraft to fix it and sign the book. Because no word ever made it to maintenance personnel the night before, there was not any indication on our flight release and flight plan regarding any MEL. However, there is no excuse why we did not pick up on the write-up when there it was in black and white. I believe that complacency had a lot to do with the situation as well. Thank god it wasn't a serious write-up.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 DEPARTED PHL WITH AN OPEN LOG ITEM.

Narrative: DURING THE PREFLT, I CHKED THE CABIN LOGBOOK TO FIND NO WRITE-UPS, BUT FOR SOME REASON DID NOT CHK THE ACFT MAINT LOG. I LEFT THAT TO THE CAPT (MY FIRST MISTAKE). HE APPARENTLY LOOKED AT IT QUICKLY, BUT DID NOT NOTICE THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN WRITE-UP. THE WRITE-UP WAS THE OUTBOARD LNDG LIGHT ON THE L WING WAS INOP. IT WAS LEFT THE NIGHT BEFORE FOR CONTRACT MAINT IN PHL. BUT FOR SOME REASON IT WAS NEVER TAKEN CARE OF. WE DEPARTED PHL AND PROCEEDED ENRTE TO CLEVELAND AND DIDN'T KNOWN ABOUT IT UNTIL WE ARRIVED WHEN MAINT CAME OUT TO THE ACFT TO FIX IT AND SIGN THE BOOK. BECAUSE NO WORD EVER MADE IT TO MAINT PERSONNEL THE NIGHT BEFORE, THERE WAS NOT ANY INDICATION ON OUR FLT RELEASE AND FLT PLAN REGARDING ANY MEL. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO EXCUSE WHY WE DID NOT PICK UP ON THE WRITE-UP WHEN THERE IT WAS IN BLACK AND WHITE. I BELIEVE THAT COMPLACENCY HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THE SIT AS WELL. THANK GOD IT WASN'T A SERIOUS WRITE-UP.

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.