Narrative:

I completed my runup and copied ATIS which stated that wind was 180 at 8; variable between 140 and 200. Runway xx was in use. I set my heading bug to xx as is my habit. I contacted ground control to arrange flight following and a transponder code. While waiting for ground control; I heard tower (on the ground frequency - they are often tied together nowadays) tell an aircraft the wind was 150 at 7. After getting my code; I told ground I was ready to taxi; and could take an intersection departure. Ground told me 'taxi to runway X at alpha Y via alpha Y.' I read the clearance back; stating 'taxi to X at alpha Y via alpha Y.' at the time I thought it odd that I was given runway X; but I figured the airport was changing runways because the wind was now from 150. I moved my heading bug to xy. I taxied to the intersection and contacted tower 'nxxx ready for departure runway X at alpha Y.' tower gave me 'nxxx fly runway heading; runway X; cleared for takeoff.' I read the clearance back 'nxxx cleared for takeoff runway X at alpha Y.' as I pulled onto the runway; I heard tower call a landing aircraft to tell him that I was his traffic. He acknowledged that he had me in sight. I got on the center line; saw no aircraft; and added power. After checking engine gauges; I looked forward and saw the other aircraft on final; not yet in the flare. I removed power at the same time that tower cancelled my takeoff clearance. The other aircraft was given a go-around. I told tower that I had been cleared runway X. They told me it should have been xx. Upon returning home; I downloaded the audio from liveatc.net. I heard that I told both ground and tower that I was taking off on runway X; and I was cleared on runway X. The audio is very clear. I believe the controller made a mistake. I read back my clearance multiple times to both ground and tower controllers; and no one questioned why I had been cleared runway X. I also believe that I should have questioned the ground controller when I was first given instructions to taxi to runway X; when runway xx was in use. I didn't; partly because I heard tower (on the ground frequency) telling another aircraft that the wind was from 150. I also didn't want to tie up the radio asking questions that sound dumb or unprofessional. I believe that ATC should not connect ground and tower frequencies together as that gave me reason to think that a runway change was in progress. In the future; if something doesn't seem right; I will ask immediately.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A23 pilot reports confusion between himself and the Tower when cleared for an intersection takeoff on Runway X; with the Tower intending to say Runway XX. An aircraft on short final goes around and the reporter rejects his takeoff.

Narrative: I completed my runup and copied ATIS which stated that wind was 180 at 8; variable between 140 and 200. Runway XX was in use. I set my heading bug to XX as is my habit. I contacted Ground Control to arrange flight following and a transponder code. While waiting for Ground Control; I heard Tower (on the Ground frequency - they are often tied together nowadays) tell an aircraft the wind was 150 at 7. After getting my code; I told Ground I was ready to taxi; and could take an intersection departure. Ground told me 'Taxi to Runway X at Alpha Y via Alpha Y.' I read the clearance back; stating 'Taxi to X at Alpha Y via Alpha Y.' At the time I thought it odd that I was given Runway X; but I figured the airport was changing runways because the wind was now from 150. I moved my heading bug to XY. I taxied to the intersection and contacted Tower 'Nxxx ready for departure Runway X at Alpha Y.' Tower gave me 'Nxxx fly runway heading; Runway X; cleared for takeoff.' I read the clearance back 'Nxxx cleared for takeoff Runway X at Alpha Y.' As I pulled onto the runway; I heard Tower call a landing aircraft to tell him that I was his traffic. He acknowledged that he had me in sight. I got on the center line; saw no aircraft; and added power. After checking engine gauges; I looked forward and saw the other aircraft on final; not yet in the flare. I removed power at the same time that Tower cancelled my takeoff clearance. The other aircraft was given a go-around. I told Tower that I had been cleared Runway X. They told me it should have been XX. Upon returning home; I downloaded the audio from liveatc.net. I heard that I told both Ground and Tower that I was taking off on Runway X; and I was cleared on Runway X. The audio is very clear. I believe the Controller made a mistake. I read back my clearance multiple times to both Ground and Tower controllers; and no one questioned why I had been cleared Runway X. I also believe that I should have questioned the Ground Controller when I was first given instructions to taxi to Runway X; when Runway XX was in use. I didn't; partly because I heard Tower (on the Ground frequency) telling another aircraft that the wind was from 150. I also didn't want to tie up the radio asking questions that sound dumb or unprofessional. I believe that ATC should not connect Ground and Tower frequencies together as that gave me reason to think that a runway change was in progress. In the future; if something doesn't seem right; I will ask immediately.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.