Narrative:

Cleared to taxi on delta and hold short of runway 12L. Then cleared via red line to hold short of runway 12R. At this time we were told 'aircraft at 5 mi cleared onto 12R and hold' after a few seconds we were 'cleared for takeoff on 12R.' at this point in time we were still taxiing on the red line and between runway 12L and 17. In the urgency for takeoff I turned on runway 17 and took off. I feel that several factors led to this mistake. 1) the red line is confusing--why not just stay on taxiway delta? 2) I do not believe runway 17 is/was adequately marked on the red line at taxiway echo. 3) I don't believe it is wise to clear a plane for takeoff when they must still taxi across a similar runway. 4) the tower should be more watchful in situations where runways intersect. I think student training was in progress. Since the event: 1) houston has installed a sign which should help prevent this problem. 2) I have also learned that an air carrier flight did the same thing in 1/89, which indicated to me hobby has needed to make some changes at the ends of 12L, 17 and 12R. As for my part: I did take 17 instead of 12R. I will: 1) always check and compare runway heading with compass headings, 2) make sure both pilots are heads up for initial roll--first officer was adjusting throttles and working with FMA's, 3) not allow myself to be rushed. Supplemental information from acn 107327: when I looked up, the first time since we reached the red line on taxi, we both realized that the runway was not 12R, but 17 with work being done on the last 2200' leaving 3800' open for takeoffs on 17. It was too late to abort safely, so takeoff was continued, landing at dfw airport.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT DEPARTED ON WRONG RWY AT HOU DUE IN PART TO TXWY CONFUSION AND HURRIED OPERATION.

Narrative: CLRED TO TAXI ON DELTA AND HOLD SHORT OF RWY 12L. THEN CLRED VIA RED LINE TO HOLD SHORT OF RWY 12R. AT THIS TIME WE WERE TOLD 'ACFT AT 5 MI CLRED ONTO 12R AND HOLD' AFTER A FEW SECS WE WERE 'CLRED FOR TKOF ON 12R.' AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE WERE STILL TAXIING ON THE RED LINE AND BTWN RWY 12L AND 17. IN THE URGENCY FOR TKOF I TURNED ON RWY 17 AND TOOK OFF. I FEEL THAT SEVERAL FACTORS LED TO THIS MISTAKE. 1) THE RED LINE IS CONFUSING--WHY NOT JUST STAY ON TXWY DELTA? 2) I DO NOT BELIEVE RWY 17 IS/WAS ADEQUATELY MARKED ON THE RED LINE AT TXWY ECHO. 3) I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS WISE TO CLR A PLANE FOR TKOF WHEN THEY MUST STILL TAXI ACROSS A SIMILAR RWY. 4) THE TWR SHOULD BE MORE WATCHFUL IN SITUATIONS WHERE RWYS INTERSECT. I THINK STUDENT TRNING WAS IN PROGRESS. SINCE THE EVENT: 1) HOUSTON HAS INSTALLED A SIGN WHICH SHOULD HELP PREVENT THIS PROB. 2) I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT AN ACR FLT DID THE SAME THING IN 1/89, WHICH INDICATED TO ME HOBBY HAS NEEDED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES AT THE ENDS OF 12L, 17 AND 12R. AS FOR MY PART: I DID TAKE 17 INSTEAD OF 12R. I WILL: 1) ALWAYS CHK AND COMPARE RWY HDG WITH COMPASS HDGS, 2) MAKE SURE BOTH PLTS ARE HEADS UP FOR INITIAL ROLL--F/O WAS ADJUSTING THROTTLES AND WORKING WITH FMA'S, 3) NOT ALLOW MYSELF TO BE RUSHED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 107327: WHEN I LOOKED UP, THE FIRST TIME SINCE WE REACHED THE RED LINE ON TAXI, WE BOTH REALIZED THAT THE RWY WAS NOT 12R, BUT 17 WITH WORK BEING DONE ON THE LAST 2200' LEAVING 3800' OPEN FOR TKOFS ON 17. IT WAS TOO LATE TO ABORT SAFELY, SO TKOF WAS CONTINUED, LNDG AT DFW ARPT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.