B737 flight crew departs a closed runway an uncontrolled airport.

Attributes
ACN	698941
Time
Date	200605
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mer.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bwi.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 2600 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	698941
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	698940
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airport
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was first officer on an aircraft to be flown from mer to san. At the departure end of runway 31; we observed workers who were conducting vegetation maintenance. The workers moved the equipment and vehicles well clear of the runway. We attempted to contact unicom without success. It appeared that we had been given the runway for departure. We were given our release from norcal; took the runway and initiated takeoff. While rolling through vr; an aircraft Y advised the runway was notamed closed. Upon contact with norcal departure; they advised runway was closed. We advised that we thought we had been ok'ed to use the runway. Supplemental information from acn 698940: during the takeoff; there was no conflict with any workers or vehicles in the vicinity of the runway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLT CREW DEPARTS A CLOSED RWY AN UNCTLED ARPT.

Narrative: I WAS FO ON AN ACFT TO BE FLOWN FROM MER TO SAN. AT THE DEP END OF RWY 31; WE OBSERVED WORKERS WHO WERE CONDUCTING VEGETATION MAINT. THE WORKERS MOVED THE EQUIP AND VEHICLES WELL CLR OF THE RWY. WE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT UNICOM WITHOUT SUCCESS. IT APPEARED THAT WE HAD BEEN GIVEN THE RWY FOR DEP. WE WERE GIVEN OUR RELEASE FROM NORCAL; TOOK THE RWY AND INITIATED TKOF. WHILE ROLLING THROUGH VR; AN ACFT Y ADVISED THE RWY WAS NOTAMED CLOSED. UPON CONTACT WITH NORCAL DEP; THEY ADVISED RWY WAS CLOSED. WE ADVISED THAT WE THOUGHT WE HAD BEEN OK'ED TO USE THE RWY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 698940: DURING THE TKOF; THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH ANY WORKERS OR VEHICLES IN THE VICINITY OF THE RWY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.