Small aircraft pilot made right turn after takeoff instead of left turn as cleared.

Attributes
ACN	122786
Time
Date	198909
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mco
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mco tower : mco
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : takeoff
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 110 flight time total : 310 flight time type : 140
ASRS Report	122786
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : clearance delivery
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departing on runway 11R, I was instructed by clearance to 'turn left 090 degrees after takeoff,' which would take me directly across runway 11L. While taxiing to runway 11R, I heard other aircraft directed to 11L by ground control, and I was concerned about crossing their flight path, and began to doubt that I had understood the instructions from clearance. Then the tower cleared me for immediate takeoff, and proceeded to clear other aircraft. Taking off, I began to turn 090 degrees right, instead of to a heading of 090 degrees. Turning to the frequency for departure control at the instructions of the tower, I was immediately advised that I was turning the wrong direction, although there was never any threat of conflict with other aircraft. I estimate I had gone no more than 1/2 mi off the runway heading when departure radar corrected my error and gave me a southbound vector. Since 1 factor was crackling on my radio, I submitted the instrument for an avionics check the following day. At no point was my aircraft or any other aircraft in any danger.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT MADE RIGHT TURN AFTER TKOF INSTEAD OF LEFT TURN AS CLEARED.

Narrative: DEPARTING ON RWY 11R, I WAS INSTRUCTED BY CLRNC TO 'TURN LEFT 090 DEGS AFTER TKOF,' WHICH WOULD TAKE ME DIRECTLY ACROSS RWY 11L. WHILE TAXIING TO RWY 11R, I HEARD OTHER ACFT DIRECTED TO 11L BY GND CTL, AND I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT XING THEIR FLT PATH, AND BEGAN TO DOUBT THAT I HAD UNDERSTOOD THE INSTRUCTIONS FROM CLRNC. THEN THE TWR CLRED ME FOR IMMEDIATE TKOF, AND PROCEEDED TO CLR OTHER ACFT. TAKING OFF, I BEGAN TO TURN 090 DEGS RIGHT, INSTEAD OF TO A HDG OF 090 DEGS. TURNING TO THE FREQ FOR DEP CTL AT THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE TWR, I WAS IMMEDIATELY ADVISED THAT I WAS TURNING THE WRONG DIRECTION, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NEVER ANY THREAT OF CONFLICT WITH OTHER ACFT. I ESTIMATE I HAD GONE NO MORE THAN 1/2 MI OFF THE RWY HDG WHEN DEP RADAR CORRECTED MY ERROR AND GAVE ME A SBND VECTOR. SINCE 1 FACTOR WAS CRACKLING ON MY RADIO, I SUBMITTED THE INSTRUMENT FOR AN AVIONICS CHK THE FOLLOWING DAY. AT NO POINT WAS MY ACFT OR ANY OTHER ACFT IN ANY DANGER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.