Narrative:

As a student pilot; I was completing my 100 mi; 3-LEG flight to palm springs. Approaching the airspace I was advised by the ATIS to contact socal approach prior to contacting the tower. After landing I was advised by ground to contact socal departure (on given frequency) and to taxi to run-up area for departure. I then switched the radio to monitor socal departure (as I thought was the reason for giving me the frequency; I realize now it was the frequency to contact after departing; and not at that moment). After holding short in the run-up area for some time; I contacted socal departure and asked if I was clear to take off on the active (runway 31R): (keeping in mind that I contacted approach to land; prior to tower I thought I would do the same prior to departure; following the same sequence). Departure then told me to contact the unicom and let any aircraft know that I would be taking off. I announced on the unicom for any traffic approaching my active runway to please advise; very cautiously checked for traffic and proceeded on my way. Immediately airborne socal advised of pilot deviation and tower wanted me to copy their number. As a student pilot; radios are always intimidating and I was trying to do exactly what I was told; from ground telling me to contact socal departure and socal to announce on the unicom. When I felt a red flag in my mind; go up; after socal told me to contact unicom I should have called back and questioned if that was entirely correct or if I should contact tower (it does not hurt to ask questions whenever I may feel the need). I also feel it was important for me to note the hierarchy. That the tower has control over that airspace; not socal and tower will always be the final word for approaching or departing aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STUDENT PILOT ON SOLO CROSS COUNTRY GETS CONFUSED DEPARTING PSP AND TAKES OFF WITHOUT CLEARANCE FROM THE TOWER.

Narrative: AS A STUDENT PLT; I WAS COMPLETING MY 100 MI; 3-LEG FLT TO PALM SPRINGS. APCHING THE AIRSPACE I WAS ADVISED BY THE ATIS TO CONTACT SOCAL APCH PRIOR TO CONTACTING THE TWR. AFTER LNDG I WAS ADVISED BY GND TO CONTACT SOCAL DEP (ON GIVEN FREQ) AND TO TAXI TO RUN-UP AREA FOR DEP. I THEN SWITCHED THE RADIO TO MONITOR SOCAL DEP (AS I THOUGHT WAS THE REASON FOR GIVING ME THE FREQ; I REALIZE NOW IT WAS THE FREQ TO CONTACT AFTER DEPARTING; AND NOT AT THAT MOMENT). AFTER HOLDING SHORT IN THE RUN-UP AREA FOR SOME TIME; I CONTACTED SOCAL DEP AND ASKED IF I WAS CLR TO TAKE OFF ON THE ACTIVE (RWY 31R): (KEEPING IN MIND THAT I CONTACTED APCH TO LAND; PRIOR TO TWR I THOUGHT I WOULD DO THE SAME PRIOR TO DEP; FOLLOWING THE SAME SEQUENCE). DEP THEN TOLD ME TO CONTACT THE UNICOM AND LET ANY ACFT KNOW THAT I WOULD BE TAKING OFF. I ANNOUNCED ON THE UNICOM FOR ANY TFC APCHING MY ACTIVE RWY TO PLEASE ADVISE; VERY CAUTIOUSLY CHKED FOR TFC AND PROCEEDED ON MY WAY. IMMEDIATELY AIRBORNE SOCAL ADVISED OF PLTDEV AND TWR WANTED ME TO COPY THEIR NUMBER. AS A STUDENT PLT; RADIOS ARE ALWAYS INTIMIDATING AND I WAS TRYING TO DO EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TOLD; FROM GND TELLING ME TO CONTACT SOCAL DEP AND SOCAL TO ANNOUNCE ON THE UNICOM. WHEN I FELT A RED FLAG IN MY MIND; GO UP; AFTER SOCAL TOLD ME TO CONTACT UNICOM I SHOULD HAVE CALLED BACK AND QUESTIONED IF THAT WAS ENTIRELY CORRECT OR IF I SHOULD CONTACT TWR (IT DOES NOT HURT TO ASK QUESTIONS WHENEVER I MAY FEEL THE NEED). I ALSO FEEL IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO NOTE THE HIERARCHY. THAT THE TWR HAS CTL OVER THAT AIRSPACE; NOT SOCAL AND TWR WILL ALWAYS BE THE FINAL WORD FOR APCHING OR DEPARTING ACFT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.