AN LJ35 CREW DEPARTED SUN WITHOUT A TAXI OR TKOF CLRNC; ASSUMING THE TWR WAS CLOSED.
Synopsis
AN LJ35 CREW DEPARTED SUN WITHOUT A TAXI OR TKOF CLRNC; ASSUMING THE TWR WAS CLOSED.
Narrative
AFTER TRYING TO CONTACT GND CTL; I CHANGED TO TWR FREQ AND BEGAN BROADCASTING IN THE BLIND MY INTENTIONS TO TAXI AND TAKE OFF. UPON COMPLETION OF OUR CHKLISTS AND CLRING THE AREA; WE DEPARTED. AS WE APCHED V1; I CAUGHT A REFLECTION IN THE TWR GLASS. AT SECOND GLANCE; IT WAS A LIGHT GUN SIGNAL FLASHING RED. BY THIS TIME; WE WERE PASSING V1 AND IT WAS TOO LATE TO STOP. ONCE AIRBORNE; I CONTACTED CTR FOR MY IFR CLRNC; THEN WAS TOLD TO CONTACT TWR AGAIN. AFTER CALLING HAILEY TWR AGAIN; THE CTLR RESPONDED PRETTY UPSET AND REQUESTED MY NAME; NUMBER; HOME BASE; ETC. I GAVE HIM MY NAME AND PHONE NUMBER; THEN WAS TOLD HE HAD ME FOR: FAILURE TO USE A RADIO; TXWY INCURSION; RWY INCURSION; AND DEPARTING WITH MEN AND EQUIP ON THE RWY. XA00 ON A FRIDAY NIGHT; WE NEVER SAW ANY MEN AND EQUIP. AS FOR THE REST; I BELIEVE THERE ARE 2 MAIN ERRORS: 1) TWR'S FAILURE TO RESPOND; AND 2) MY BELIEF THAT THE TWR WAS CLOSED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 546166: CAPT CALLED GND CTL ON 121.7 2 TIMES AND TRIED TO GET A CLRNC TO TAXI. HE TOLD ME TO TAXI TO RWY 13. WE STARTED ROLLING. BY THE TIME THE CAPT SAW THE RED LIGHT GUN WE HAD ROTATED AND WERE STARTING OUR CLBOUT. I BELIEVE THIS WHOLE EVENT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF WE (THE CAPT AND I) (FO) WOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THE HRS OF OP.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.