<< >> NASA ASRS Report 383158, October 1997

Pilot of an small transport twin took off on the wrong runway due to mindset during taxi out to runway in use.

Attributes
ACN	383158
Time
Date	199710
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hou
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hou tower : clt
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 85 flight time total : 1567 flight time type : 810
ASRS Report	383158
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Preparing for departure for IFR flight from hou to avl. ATIS: active runway 4, instructed to taxi to runway 4. Told to hold short at taxiway K and runway 12L (crosses taxiway K on route to depart runway 4). Then asked if I could accept a departure at runway 12R and taxiway K, asked for runway remaining and told 3800 ft. I accepted. Then told to cross runway 12L, hold at runway 12R. Then cleared to takeoff. Instead of turning left to takeoff on runway 12R I turned right and took off on runway 4. (After checking final.) at 500 ft MSL I was informed I had used the wrong runway. But there had been no conflict, so no problem, but be more careful. I suppose I had runway 4 fixed in my mind due to ATIS and initial taxi instructions. This is no excuse. I will pay closer attention in future. It would be helpful, however, if the controller said something like 'change runway assignment to' to jolt the mind fixation. There are a lot of things to do in a complex twin single pilot and every reminder is helpful.

Related reports:

• Pilot of an small transport sel turboprop cargo aircraft ove...

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.37000feet.com

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMT TWIN TOOK OFF ON THE WRONG RWY DUE TO MINDSET DURING TAXI OUT TO RWY IN USE.

Narrative: PREPARING FOR DEP FOR IFR FLT FROM HOU TO AVL. ATIS: ACTIVE RWY 4, INSTRUCTED TO TAXI TO RWY 4. TOLD TO HOLD SHORT AT TXWY K AND RWY 12L (CROSSES TXWY K ON RTE TO DEPART RWY 4). THEN ASKED IF I COULD ACCEPT A DEP AT RWY 12R AND TXWY K, ASKED FOR RWY REMAINING AND TOLD 3800 FT. I ACCEPTED. THEN TOLD TO CROSS RWY 12L, HOLD AT RWY 12R. THEN CLRED TO TKOF. INSTEAD OF TURNING L TO TKOF ON RWY 12R I TURNED R AND TOOK OFF ON RWY 4. (AFTER CHKING FINAL.) AT 500 FT MSL I WAS INFORMED I HAD USED THE WRONG RWY. BUT THERE HAD BEEN NO CONFLICT, SO NO PROB, BUT BE MORE CAREFUL. I SUPPOSE I HAD RWY 4 FIXED IN MY MIND DUE TO ATIS AND INITIAL TAXI INSTRUCTIONS. THIS IS NO EXCUSE. I WILL PAY CLOSER ATTN IN FUTURE. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, HOWEVER, IF THE CTLR SAID SOMETHING LIKE 'CHANGE RWY ASSIGNMENT TO' TO JOLT THE MIND FIXATION. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO DO IN A COMPLEX TWIN SINGLE PLT AND EVERY REMINDER IS HELPFUL.

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.