An RV3 pilot thought the uncontrolled field was clear for takeoff and discovered on takeoff roll tha...

Attributes
ACN	594723
Time
Date	200309
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude landing : go around
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 500 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	594723
Person 2
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac incursion : runway non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : executed go around
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airport
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

After monitoring CTAF for approximately 5 mins without hearing any traffic, I approached the 1 degree sloped runway for a downslope takeoff. I checked for traffic in the pattern and on both final approachs. I saw a glint of light on the upslope approach path, so I rechked to make sure it wasn't an approaching airplane. It appeared to be a stationary object on a mountain ridge that was straight out from the downslope runway. I announced my intention to take off from the downslope runway and I received no response on the CTAF, so I taxied onto the runway and began my takeoff roll. I was suddenly aware of a twin engine airplane that had aborted its landing and flew directly overhead in the opposite direction at approximately 100 ft AGL. I continued my takeoff roll and departed the airport. I attribute my failure to identify the approaching airplane to the novelty of the optical illusion created by the apparently stationary airplane with the mountain ridge in the backgnd. Now that I am aware of how that looks, I believe that I will be able to identify an approaching aircraft should a similar situation occur. Also, I think that the lack of CTAF traffic contributed to my conclusion that the glint of light I was looking at was not an airplane.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN RV3 PLT THOUGHT THE UNCTLED FIELD WAS CLR FOR TKOF AND DISCOVERED ON TKOF ROLL THAT THERE WAS AN ACFT ON SHORT FINAL FOR THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION RWY THAT HAD TO GO AROUND.

Narrative: AFTER MONITORING CTAF FOR APPROX 5 MINS WITHOUT HEARING ANY TFC, I APCHED THE 1 DEG SLOPED RWY FOR A DOWNSLOPE TKOF. I CHKED FOR TFC IN THE PATTERN AND ON BOTH FINAL APCHS. I SAW A GLINT OF LIGHT ON THE UPSLOPE APCH PATH, SO I RECHKED TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T AN APCHING AIRPLANE. IT APPEARED TO BE A STATIONARY OBJECT ON A MOUNTAIN RIDGE THAT WAS STRAIGHT OUT FROM THE DOWNSLOPE RWY. I ANNOUNCED MY INTENTION TO TAKE OFF FROM THE DOWNSLOPE RWY AND I RECEIVED NO RESPONSE ON THE CTAF, SO I TAXIED ONTO THE RWY AND BEGAN MY TKOF ROLL. I WAS SUDDENLY AWARE OF A TWIN ENGINE AIRPLANE THAT HAD ABORTED ITS LNDG AND FLEW DIRECTLY OVERHEAD IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT APPROX 100 FT AGL. I CONTINUED MY TKOF ROLL AND DEPARTED THE ARPT. I ATTRIBUTE MY FAILURE TO IDENT THE APCHING AIRPLANE TO THE NOVELTY OF THE OPTICAL ILLUSION CREATED BY THE APPARENTLY STATIONARY AIRPLANE WITH THE MOUNTAIN RIDGE IN THE BACKGND. NOW THAT I AM AWARE OF HOW THAT LOOKS, I BELIEVE THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO IDENT AN APCHING ACFT SHOULD A SIMILAR SIT OCCUR. ALSO, I THINK THAT THE LACK OF CTAF TFC CONTRIBUTED TO MY CONCLUSION THAT THE GLINT OF LIGHT I WAS LOOKING AT WAS NOT AN AIRPLANE.

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.

An RV3 pilot thought the uncontrolled field was clear for takeoff and discovered on takeoff roll that there was an aircraft on short final for the opposite direction runway that had to go around.