Narrative:

I was cleared to taxi to runway 17 (the same runway I just landed on). After completing the aircraft checklist and run-up, the tower cleared us for takeoff on runway 17. Unfortunately I did not complete my final check, which should have been to verify runway markers and heading, and I proceeded to take off from a taxiway. I realized my error shortly after I rotated, about the same time the tower advised me of my error. Factors leading up this incursion include the following: 1) I had not landed at this airport in several years. Although I was not familiar with the airport, I did review airport information such as runway layout and radio frequencys, prior to landing. 2) the run-up area for runway 17 is at the northwest corner of a large concrete/paved area where runways 8 and 17, and 2 txwys originate (runway 21 also originates in this area). Runway 17 passes through the middle of this paved area and is idented with standard signs and markings, but there are no brush or unimproved surfaces differentiating the sides of the runway that are obviously visible from the run-up area. 3) the taxiway I took off from is directly in front of the run-up area, and looked a lot better (wide, long, well paved, empty) than most of the runways I use at other airports. Runway 17 was a sharp turn to the right. 4) the WX was very hot (107 degrees F) and this was the final leg of a fairly long trip. I did not feel tired or dehydrated, but in hindsight this may have been a contributing factor. I have no excuse for this error except that I was anxious to get on my way, and I did not follow my own procedures and training. Since I had just landed on runway 17, I lulled myself into thinking that I knew where I was on the airport, and I did not do a final check for runway markers and orientation. I still cannot believe that I could have been so careless and am taking every precaution to make sure that it will never happen again.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF HOMEBUILT SMA TOOK OFF FROM EBOUND TXWY VICE RWY 17 AS CLRED BY YUM.

Narrative: I WAS CLRED TO TAXI TO RWY 17 (THE SAME RWY I JUST LANDED ON). AFTER COMPLETING THE ACFT CHKLIST AND RUN-UP, THE TWR CLRED US FOR TKOF ON RWY 17. UNFORTUNATELY I DID NOT COMPLETE MY FINAL CHK, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO VERIFY RWY MARKERS AND HEADING, AND I PROCEEDED TO TAKE OFF FROM A TXWY. I REALIZED MY ERROR SHORTLY AFTER I ROTATED, ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE TWR ADVISED ME OF MY ERROR. FACTORS LEADING UP THIS INCURSION INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1) I HAD NOT LANDED AT THIS ARPT IN SEVERAL YEARS. ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT, I DID REVIEW ARPT INFO SUCH AS RWY LAYOUT AND RADIO FREQS, PRIOR TO LNDG. 2) THE RUN-UP AREA FOR RWY 17 IS AT THE NW CORNER OF A LARGE CONCRETE/PAVED AREA WHERE RWYS 8 AND 17, AND 2 TXWYS ORIGINATE (RWY 21 ALSO ORIGINATES IN THIS AREA). RWY 17 PASSES THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THIS PAVED AREA AND IS IDENTED WITH STANDARD SIGNS AND MARKINGS, BUT THERE ARE NO BRUSH OR UNIMPROVED SURFACES DIFFERENTIATING THE SIDES OF THE RWY THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY VISIBLE FROM THE RUN-UP AREA. 3) THE TXWY I TOOK OFF FROM IS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE RUN-UP AREA, AND LOOKED A LOT BETTER (WIDE, LONG, WELL PAVED, EMPTY) THAN MOST OF THE RWYS I USE AT OTHER ARPTS. RWY 17 WAS A SHARP TURN TO THE R. 4) THE WX WAS VERY HOT (107 DEGS F) AND THIS WAS THE FINAL LEG OF A FAIRLY LONG TRIP. I DID NOT FEEL TIRED OR DEHYDRATED, BUT IN HINDSIGHT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. I HAVE NO EXCUSE FOR THIS ERROR EXCEPT THAT I WAS ANXIOUS TO GET ON MY WAY, AND I DID NOT FOLLOW MY OWN PROCS AND TRAINING. SINCE I HAD JUST LANDED ON RWY 17, I LULLED MYSELF INTO THINKING THAT I KNEW WHERE I WAS ON THE ARPT, AND I DID NOT DO A FINAL CHK FOR RWY MARKERS AND ORIENTATION. I STILL CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN SO CARELESS AND AM TAKING EVERY PRECAUTION TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

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.