A PA28 PLT; READY FOR TAXI AT JXN; UNABLE TO CONTACT THE TWR; TAXIED TO THE RWY AND TOOK OFF.

Narrative

AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE TWR; I RECEIVED NO RESPONSE THAT I COULD HEAR. SO; I AND PROCEEDED TO TAXI TO THE ACTIVE RWY AND TOOK OFF USING THE TWR FREQ AS THE CTAF. AT ABOUT 400 FT AGL; I HEARD A CALL FROM THE JXN CTLR THAT I HAD JUST DEPARTED WITHOUT CLRNC. THIS WAS THE FIRST AUDIBLE RESPONSE WHICH I HEARD. THE CTLR ADVISED I NEEDED TO CALL HIM WHEN I LANDED. I REQUESTED A CLRNC TO RETURN TO JXN AND DISCUSS THE SIT AT THAT TIME; AS I AM WELL AWARE OF THE SEVERITY OF RWY INCURSIONS. THE CTLR AND I DISCUSSED MY ERROR AT LENGTH AND HE ADVISED THAT HIS PURPOSE WAS EDUCATION FOR ME IN THIS SIT. I HAD WRONGLY ASSUMED THE TWR WAS CLOSED; AND DID NOT LOOK TO THE TWR FOR LIGHT GUN SIGNALS WHICH WOULD HAVE ALERTED ME TO MY SIT. THE CTLR STATED ALSO THAT HE HAD TURNED THE RWY LIGHTS UP AND DOWN TO GET MY ATTN. I SAW THIS WHEN I ENTERED THE ACTIVE RWY BUT ERRONEOUSLY ATTRIBUTED IT TO PLT CTLED LIGHTING WHICH WAS STILL ACTIVE. AFTER THE CONVERSATION AND COUNSELING BY THE CTLR REGARDING MY ERRORS; I DEPARTED THE ARPT USING A HANDHELD RADIO. I SHOULD HAVE DOUBLECHKED THE PRIMARY RADIO INITIALLY WHEN THERE WAS NO TWR REPLY; WHICH WOULD HAVE ELIMINATED THIS VERY UNFORTUNATE SIT. FURTHER; I WILL WORK WITH MY LCL TWR ON LIGHT GUN SIGNALS WHEN THEIR WORKLOAD ALLOWS. I HAVE ALSO PURCHASED A NEW RADIO AND WILL SEND IN THE PRESENT ONE FOR REPAIR. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY PERSONAL POLICY NOT TO FLY WITH ANY KNOWN EQUIP DEFICIENCY. SIMPLY; I MADE A MISTAKE AND AM GRATEFUL THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT WHICH AROSE.