An AC11 pilot, taxiing for takeoff at wdr, taxied onto a closed runway.

Attributes
ACN	559237
Time
Date	200209
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : wdr.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Commander 114
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 23000 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	559237
Person 2
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : vehicle driver 3
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After fuel stop at wdr, GA, I taxied for takeoff. A previous aircraft gear collapse incident was being investigated on the median between runway 5 and the parallel taxiway. Personnel had completed measurements and as I taxied, the yellow panels used to close the runway were picked up so I assumed the runway was open. I taxied to and called for takeoff on runway 5. Unicom advised that the runway was still closed, so I taxied clear and departed runway 13. The fact that a vehicle with flashing lights approached me on the runway and someone took a picture of my plane during taxi indicated possible far action. Contributing factors were that on initial call to unicom for airport advisories, I received no response, and the fact that personnel had left the runway area and the yellow 'X' had been removed, I assumed the runway to be open. There was never a conflict with personnel or equipment. I had not checked NOTAMS prior, since this was planned as a local sightseeing flight from my home airport gvl.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AC11 PLT, TAXIING FOR TKOF AT WDR, TAXIED ONTO A CLOSED RWY.

Narrative: AFTER FUEL STOP AT WDR, GA, I TAXIED FOR TKOF. A PREVIOUS ACFT GEAR COLLAPSE INCIDENT WAS BEING INVESTIGATED ON THE MEDIAN BTWN RWY 5 AND THE PARALLEL TXWY. PERSONNEL HAD COMPLETED MEASUREMENTS AND AS I TAXIED, THE YELLOW PANELS USED TO CLOSE THE RWY WERE PICKED UP SO I ASSUMED THE RWY WAS OPEN. I TAXIED TO AND CALLED FOR TKOF ON RWY 5. UNICOM ADVISED THAT THE RWY WAS STILL CLOSED, SO I TAXIED CLR AND DEPARTED RWY 13. THE FACT THAT A VEHICLE WITH FLASHING LIGHTS APCHED ME ON THE RWY AND SOMEONE TOOK A PICTURE OF MY PLANE DURING TAXI INDICATED POSSIBLE FAR ACTION. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THAT ON INITIAL CALL TO UNICOM FOR ARPT ADVISORIES, I RECEIVED NO RESPONSE, AND THE FACT THAT PERSONNEL HAD LEFT THE RWY AREA AND THE YELLOW 'X' HAD BEEN REMOVED, I ASSUMED THE RWY TO BE OPEN. THERE WAS NEVER A CONFLICT WITH PERSONNEL OR EQUIP. I HAD NOT CHKED NOTAMS PRIOR, SINCE THIS WAS PLANNED AS A LCL SIGHTSEEING FLT FROM MY HOME ARPT GVL.

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.