Pilot took off from intersection mid-field opposite to what the controller intended.

Attributes
ACN	285925
Time
Date	199410
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msy
State Reference	LA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1600 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	285925
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After receiving 'ATIS' information and clearance control (transponder code), ground gave me taxi instructions to runway 01. About halfway to runway 01 (I was parked at general aviation) ground said I could have a mid-field takeoff on runway 10, and to turn left (I believe it was 'C'), hold and contact tower. This I did. Tower immediately gave me 'cleared for takeoff.' I pulled up to runway 10 and looked toward runway 01. A jet was landing on 'runway 01.' so I took off heading west (280 degrees). Once airborne, tower informed me I took off going the wrong way. Gave me permission for a left turn then downwind for runway 10 -- since my destination was to the east. I know I should have verified the direction of takeoff with the tower. But, when he didn't give me the direction, logic said you don't take off towards landing traffic. If he had said to take off to the east (100 degrees), and I looked over at 737 landing in front of me, I hope I would have had the good sense to refuse. 2 points, I didn't ask for mid-field takeoff and tower did not specify the direction when he gave me 'cleared for takeoff.' also, I am not familiar with the airport. Hopefully -- next time I will ask when in doubt.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT TOOK OFF FROM INTXN MID-FIELD OPPOSITE TO WHAT THE CTLR INTENDED.

Narrative: AFTER RECEIVING 'ATIS' INFO AND CLRNC CTL (XPONDER CODE), GND GAVE ME TAXI INSTRUCTIONS TO RWY 01. ABOUT HALFWAY TO RWY 01 (I WAS PARKED AT GENERAL AVIATION) GND SAID I COULD HAVE A MID-FIELD TKOF ON RWY 10, AND TO TURN L (I BELIEVE IT WAS 'C'), HOLD AND CONTACT TWR. THIS I DID. TWR IMMEDIATELY GAVE ME 'CLRED FOR TKOF.' I PULLED UP TO RWY 10 AND LOOKED TOWARD RWY 01. A JET WAS LNDG ON 'RWY 01.' SO I TOOK OFF HEADING W (280 DEGS). ONCE AIRBORNE, TWR INFORMED ME I TOOK OFF GOING THE WRONG WAY. GAVE ME PERMISSION FOR A L TURN THEN DOWNWIND FOR RWY 10 -- SINCE MY DEST WAS TO THE E. I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE VERIFIED THE DIRECTION OF TKOF WITH THE TWR. BUT, WHEN HE DIDN'T GIVE ME THE DIRECTION, LOGIC SAID YOU DON'T TAKE OFF TOWARDS LNDG TFC. IF HE HAD SAID TO TAKE OFF TO THE E (100 DEGS), AND I LOOKED OVER AT 737 LNDG IN FRONT OF ME, I HOPE I WOULD HAVE HAD THE GOOD SENSE TO REFUSE. 2 POINTS, I DIDN'T ASK FOR MID-FIELD TKOF AND TWR DID NOT SPECIFY THE DIRECTION WHEN HE GAVE ME 'CLRED FOR TKOF.' ALSO, I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT. HOPEFULLY -- NEXT TIME I WILL ASK WHEN IN DOUBT.

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