GA pilot taxies into position on the runway without clearance. Becoming uncomfortable, a call is mad...

Attributes
ACN	529492
Time
Date	200111
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : avl.airport
State Reference	NC
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : position and hold ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 54 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	529492
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I taxied to runway 34 with ground frequency. I called tower 'ready for departure runway 34.' I received a clearance to 'taxi runway 34, caution for a twin cessna.' I answered 'roger, runway 34 position and hold' and heard no correction. I saw no traffic and taxied into position and stopped. I was uncomfortable with the clearance and so I called tower again, announcing 'north-number, position and hold runway 34.' controller responded in surprise, cleared me for takeoff and announced traffic on 2 mi final. I departed avl uneventfully. The controller mentioned not clearing me 'position and hold runway 34.' I then realized that I had expected to hear a clearance to 'taxi position and hold,' when in fact the controller (who I think was working both ground and tower frequencys) thought I was requesting clearance to taxi. (I think the controllers changed while I taxied and I talked to 2 different people.) I intend to listen very carefully to the controller's words and clearance. Our expectations can deceive us. I knew something wasn't right and I am glad I called tower immediately.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA PLT TAXIES INTO POS ON THE RWY WITHOUT CLRNC. BECOMING UNCOMFORTABLE, A CALL IS MADE TO THE LCL CTLR WHO HAD NOT NOTICED.

Narrative: I TAXIED TO RWY 34 WITH GND FREQ. I CALLED TWR 'READY FOR DEP RWY 34.' I RECEIVED A CLRNC TO 'TAXI RWY 34, CAUTION FOR A TWIN CESSNA.' I ANSWERED 'ROGER, RWY 34 POS AND HOLD' AND HEARD NO CORRECTION. I SAW NO TFC AND TAXIED INTO POS AND STOPPED. I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE CLRNC AND SO I CALLED TWR AGAIN, ANNOUNCING 'N-NUMBER, POS AND HOLD RWY 34.' CTLR RESPONDED IN SURPRISE, CLRED ME FOR TKOF AND ANNOUNCED TFC ON 2 MI FINAL. I DEPARTED AVL UNEVENTFULLY. THE CTLR MENTIONED NOT CLRING ME 'POS AND HOLD RWY 34.' I THEN REALIZED THAT I HAD EXPECTED TO HEAR A CLRNC TO 'TAXI POS AND HOLD,' WHEN IN FACT THE CTLR (WHO I THINK WAS WORKING BOTH GND AND TWR FREQS) THOUGHT I WAS REQUESTING CLRNC TO TAXI. (I THINK THE CTLRS CHANGED WHILE I TAXIED AND I TALKED TO 2 DIFFERENT PEOPLE.) I INTEND TO LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY TO THE CTLR'S WORDS AND CLRNC. OUR EXPECTATIONS CAN DECEIVE US. I KNEW SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT AND I AM GLAD I CALLED TWR IMMEDIATELY.

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.

GA pilot taxies into position on the runway without clearance. Becoming uncomfortable, a call is made to the local controller who had not noticed.