A DC10-40 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH A DEFERRED ITEM SPECIAL PROC INSPECTION NOT ACCOMPLISHED.

Narrative

WE DEPARTED ON A PAX FLT WITH AN MEL WHICH REQUIRED AN INSPECTION BE PERFORMED PRIOR TO THE DAY'S FIRST FLT. THE ACFT CAME TO THE GATE LATE; 45-50 MINS PRIOR TO DEP. THE PREFLT WAS RUSHED AMIDST CLEANING; ENTERING; BOARDING AND ADDITIONAL MAINT ACTION. MY INSPECTION OF THE LOGBOOK WAS SOMEWHAT RUSHED AND DISTR. I NOTED THE MEL FOR A DRAIN MAST LOW HEAT WARNING LIGHT MATCHED THE ONE ON THE DISPATCH RELEASE. IT REQUIRED A CHK OF FUNCTION PRIOR TO EACH DAY'S FIRST FLT; ACCORDING TO THE MEL'S DDG [MEL SPECIAL PROC]. I ALSO NOTED THE CHK WAS SIGNED OFF ABOUT 3 PAGES PRIOR TO THE CURRENT LOG PAGE. THE SO AND A MECH WERE ALSO DISCUSSING THIS ITEM AND I WAS TRYING TO PAY ATTN TO THEM AS WELL. I NEGLECTED TO NOTICE THIS SIGNOFF WAS FOR THE FLT INTO THIS STATION (PRIOR TO APPROX 36 HRS IN THE HANGAR) AND 2 DAYS PRIOR AND WASN'T CURRENT. THIS REINFORCED MY CONFIDENCE THE MATTER WAS UNDER CTL. A MAINT CTL COMPUTER ALERTED OUR POINT OF FIRST LNDG ABOUT THE UNCLRED CHK. THEY PERFORMED THE CHK AT THAT TIME AND FOUND IT TO BE OPERATIONAL.