Narrative:

When cleared to take off by ZZZ tower; as I was entering the runway for takeoff; I looked away from the taxi line to search for helicopter traffic what had been reported by tower in conjunction with the takeoff clearance. When I looked back at the runway; I was aware of lights embedded in the pavement below me. Thinking they were the centerline lights; I lined up on them. (Turns out; this airport has no centerline lights. I know that; as I had been there before. But; no matter.) as I began to apply power; the first officer aggressively informed me that I was lined up on the runway edge lights. I immediately corrected to the (unlit) centerline; and continued a normal takeoff. Supplemental information from acn 784985: after takeoff we were concerned the aircraft may have damaged some of the left edge lights.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF HEAVY FREIGHT ACFT INITIALLY LINED UP ON RWY EDGE LIGHTS FOR TKOF. FO ADVISED THE CAPT OF THE DEVIATION; THE LINE-UP WAS CORRECTED; AND TKOF CONTINUED.

Narrative: WHEN CLRED TO TAKE OFF BY ZZZ TWR; AS I WAS ENTERING THE RWY FOR TKOF; I LOOKED AWAY FROM THE TAXI LINE TO SEARCH FOR HELI TFC WHAT HAD BEEN RPTED BY TWR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TKOF CLRNC. WHEN I LOOKED BACK AT THE RWY; I WAS AWARE OF LIGHTS EMBEDDED IN THE PAVEMENT BELOW ME. THINKING THEY WERE THE CTRLINE LIGHTS; I LINED UP ON THEM. (TURNS OUT; THIS ARPT HAS NO CTRLINE LIGHTS. I KNOW THAT; AS I HAD BEEN THERE BEFORE. BUT; NO MATTER.) AS I BEGAN TO APPLY PWR; THE FO AGGRESSIVELY INFORMED ME THAT I WAS LINED UP ON THE RWY EDGE LIGHTS. I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED TO THE (UNLIT) CTRLINE; AND CONTINUED A NORMAL TKOF. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 784985: AFTER TKOF WE WERE CONCERNED THE ACFT MAY HAVE DAMAGED SOME OF THE L EDGE LIGHTS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.