Narrative:

Cleared to taxi to runway 12R via taxiway M and hold short at taxiway D. After a hold short at taxiway D; we were cleared for takeoff on runway 12R. At that position; runway 12R and runway 17 intersect. As I was turning left to enter runway 12R; the co-captain and I saw the runway sign for runway 12R and proceeded to take off. As I neared V1 speed. I glanced down and noticed the HSI reading 170 degrees. I commented we were on the wrong way and proceeded with the takeoff. After a brief climb; the tower controller indicated we departed on runway 17; however; that was ok; turn left to 340 degrees and climb to assigned altitude. The co-captain acknowledged the error to the controller and the controller responded 'ok; turn to heading 340 degrees.' there were no apparent traffic conflicts and the flight continued.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C560 DEP FROM HOU ISSUED RWY 12R TKOF CLRNC COMPLETED TKOF ON INTERSECTING RWY 17.

Narrative: CLRED TO TAXI TO RWY 12R VIA TXWY M AND HOLD SHORT AT TXWY D. AFTER A HOLD SHORT AT TXWY D; WE WERE CLRED FOR TKOF ON RWY 12R. AT THAT POS; RWY 12R AND RWY 17 INTERSECT. AS I WAS TURNING L TO ENTER RWY 12R; THE CO-CAPT AND I SAW THE RWY SIGN FOR RWY 12R AND PROCEEDED TO TAKE OFF. AS I NEARED V1 SPD. I GLANCED DOWN AND NOTICED THE HSI READING 170 DEGS. I COMMENTED WE WERE ON THE WRONG WAY AND PROCEEDED WITH THE TKOF. AFTER A BRIEF CLB; THE TWR CTLR INDICATED WE DEPARTED ON RWY 17; HOWEVER; THAT WAS OK; TURN L TO 340 DEGS AND CLB TO ASSIGNED ALT. THE CO-CAPT ACKNOWLEDGED THE ERROR TO THE CTLR AND THE CTLR RESPONDED 'OK; TURN TO HDG 340 DEGS.' THERE WERE NO APPARENT TFC CONFLICTS AND THE FLT CONTINUED.

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.