PA28 pilot reports confusion during taxi to runway 25 at rfd via taxiway J. Thinking that taxiway F ...

Narrative:

I was leaving rfd; having been parked in a hangar [northeast of runway 19]. I was unfamiliar with the airport. I had picked up the ATIS and caught 1 or 25 as departing runways. When I called for my taxi clearance; I also asked for VFR flight following to be set up; and it was. After some confusion over the departure runways; I was offered; and accepted; progressive taxi to runway 25. That was a left turn from the hangar area down juliet? I didn't know how close I was; and when I saw foxtrot; I asked if I should go there. I was told no; runway 25 was my destination and I was at the end of 25. Seeing hold short lines all over the place; my first concern was that I had crossed the hold short line; but the controller told me to do my run-up right there where I was. At that point I should have stopped; collected my thoughts; and reviewed the airport diagram; but I didn't. This is when my mind put me on the runway; but I was told to do the run-up so it was ok. In reality; I was still on a taxiway and had not had a runway incursion. Given the clearance to depart; I was too quick and assumed the taxiway was the runway and proceeded to depart on the taxiway. The controller told me to 'stop; stop'; which I did; and he explained that I had begun a departure on a taxiway. I was told to do a 180 on the taxiway and come back and depart at the end of runway 25. Adding insult to injury; when told to switch to departure frequency I managed to stay on tower. Calling departure I was informed that I was still on tower. During preflight; I had put tower frequency on both radios. They were both on the active. When going to departure; I switched radios but not the frequency. Switching frequencies then put me with departure. The rest of the flight went well.ground control at destination informed me that rfd requested that I call. I knew what they wanted; and felt really bad about the unpreparedness. I have read of these situations and never considered that I would put myself in one of them. I learned that it is quite possible for me to screw up; and that I need to be more rigorous at every airport and phase of flight. The ultimate cause was hurried confusion; unfamiliarity with the airport; my position on the airport; and not referring to the airport diagram when I was unsure of my position.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 pilot reports confusion during taxi to Runway 25 at RFD via Taxiway J. Thinking that Taxiway F is the runway a takeoff is attempted before being told to stop by the Tower and taxi back to the end of Runway 25.

Narrative: I was leaving RFD; having been parked in a hangar [northeast of Runway 19]. I was unfamiliar with the airport. I had picked up the ATIS and caught 1 or 25 as departing runways. When I called for my taxi clearance; I also asked for VFR flight following to be set up; and it was. After some confusion over the departure runways; I was offered; and accepted; progressive taxi to Runway 25. That was a left turn from the hangar area down Juliet? I didn't know how close I was; and when I saw Foxtrot; I asked if I should go there. I was told no; Runway 25 was my destination and I was at the end of 25. Seeing hold short lines all over the place; my first concern was that I had crossed the hold short line; but the controller told me to do my run-up right there where I was. AT THAT POINT I SHOULD HAVE STOPPED; COLLECTED MY THOUGHTS; AND REVIEWED THE AIRPORT DIAGRAM; BUT I DIDN'T. This is when my mind put me ON THE RUNWAY; BUT I WAS TOLD TO DO THE RUN-UP SO IT WAS OK. In reality; I was still on a taxiway and had not had a runway incursion. Given the clearance to depart; I was too quick and assumed the taxiway was the runway and proceeded to depart on the taxiway. The Controller told me to 'stop; stop'; which I did; and he explained that I had begun a departure on a taxiway. I was told to do a 180 on the taxiway and come back and depart at the end of Runway 25. Adding insult to injury; when told to switch to departure frequency I managed to stay on Tower. Calling departure I was informed that I was still on Tower. During preflight; I had put Tower frequency on both radios. They were both on the active. When going to departure; I switched radios but not the frequency. Switching frequencies then put me with departure. The rest of the flight went well.Ground Control at destination informed me that RFD requested that I call. I knew what they wanted; and felt really bad about the unpreparedness. I have read of these situations and never considered that I would put myself in one of them. I learned that it is quite possible for me to screw up; and that I need to be more rigorous at every airport and phase of flight. The ultimate cause was hurried confusion; unfamiliarity with the airport; my position on the airport; and not referring to the airport diagram when I was unsure of my position.

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.

Attributes
ACN	1001233
Time
Date	201203
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	RFD.Airport
State Reference	IL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-24 Turbo Comanche
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Private Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35 Flight Crew Total 1579 Flight Crew Type 1466
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Clearance Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown Ground Incursion Taxiway

PA28 pilot reports confusion during taxi to runway 25 at rfd via taxiway J. Thinking that taxiway F is the runway a takeoff is attempted before being told to stop by the tower and taxi back to the end of runway 25.