An inexperienced private pilot failed to note the tower had cleared him for a straight out departure...

Attributes
ACN	992778
Time
Date	201202
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	TOA.Airport
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Cessna Single Piston Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20 Flight Crew Total 180 Flight Crew Type 20
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types
Miss Distance	Horizontal 500 Vertical 0

Narrative:

I'm a new private pilot and had planned a VFR cross country flight. Holding short of 29R I requested a right downwind departure. Tower cleared me for take off (but for a straight-out departure). My mistake [was] to have not listened in carefully for the amended takeoff instruction. I read-back that I was cleared for take-off. I then took off with the assumption that I was to proceed with [my requested] right downwind departure and started the right crosswind turn. What I saw was pretty scary! Another cessna at my altitude was approaching from my left to join the traffic pattern inbound to land on 29R. Both of us immediately diverted and avoided collision. The tower controller was furious at me and asked me to contact them at the earliest opportunity after landing!I did call back after landing and we discussed the situation. ATC insisted that it was solely my fault (which I accepted). I suggested that there was a human factor involved and such situations can be minimized by ATC personnel including a couple of words each time the clearance is different from what is requested (like 'amended clearance') so that the pilot can be re-emphasized of this fact. On the pilot's part; he/she should read-back and acknowledge acceptance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An inexperienced Private Pilot failed to note the Tower had cleared him for a straight out departure vice the downwind deparature he had requested. When the pilot turned the crosswind leg he had to perform evasive maneuvers to avoid another aircraft entering the pattern on the downwind leg.

Narrative: I'm a new Private pilot and had planned a VFR cross country flight. Holding short of 29R I requested a right downwind departure. Tower cleared me for take off (but for a straight-out departure). My mistake [was] to have not listened in carefully for the amended takeoff instruction. I read-back that I was cleared for take-off. I then took off with the assumption that I was to proceed with [my requested] right downwind departure and started the right crosswind turn. What I saw was pretty scary! Another Cessna at my altitude was approaching from my left to join the traffic pattern inbound to land on 29R. Both of us immediately diverted and avoided collision. The Tower Controller was furious at me and asked me to contact them at the earliest opportunity after landing!I did call back after landing and we discussed the situation. ATC insisted that it was solely my fault (which I accepted). I suggested that there was a human factor involved and such situations can be minimized by ATC personnel including a couple of words each time the clearance is different from what is requested (like 'AMENDED CLEARANCE') so that the pilot can be re-emphasized of this fact. On the pilot's part; he/she should read-back and acknowledge acceptance.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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 inexperienced private pilot failed to note the tower had cleared him for a straight out departure vice the downwind deparature he had requested. When the pilot turned the crosswind leg he had to perform evasive maneuvers to avoid another aircraft entering the pattern on the downwind leg.