GA small aircraft took takeoff position on the wrong runway at las. Tower saw the error and changed ...

Attributes
ACN	128484
Time
Date	198911
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	ground : holding ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 28 flight time total : 1250 flight time type : 190
ASRS Report	128484
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared to taxi to 19L via delta. Taxied to the end of runway, completed run-up, and called tower for takeoff. Tower responded with 'taxi into position and hold.' I did so. Tower called and asked me 'location, please?' I looked at runway #'south and idented 19R and asked if I should clear. Tower said 'no,' and cleared takeoff. Considerations: 1) I was unfamiliar with airport. 2) immediately preceding flight I had problems with FBO who had charged me for fuel, but had not done so. 3) as I taxied, I recall identing 19L as being on my left (error). Corrective action: never taxi west/O an airport diagram in my lap. Verify and double check runway and taxiway identify. Concern: this one really got my attention. I could easily have precipitated an accident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA TOOK TKOF POSITION ON THE WRONG RWY AT LAS. TWR SAW THE ERROR AND CHANGED TKOF CLRNC.

Narrative: CLRED TO TAXI TO 19L VIA DELTA. TAXIED TO THE END OF RWY, COMPLETED RUN-UP, AND CALLED TWR FOR TKOF. TWR RESPONDED WITH 'TAXI INTO POS AND HOLD.' I DID SO. TWR CALLED AND ASKED ME 'LOCATION, PLEASE?' I LOOKED AT RWY #'S AND IDENTED 19R AND ASKED IF I SHOULD CLEAR. TWR SAID 'NO,' AND CLRED TKOF. CONSIDERATIONS: 1) I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH ARPT. 2) IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING FLT I HAD PROBS WITH FBO WHO HAD CHARGED ME FOR FUEL, BUT HAD NOT DONE SO. 3) AS I TAXIED, I RECALL IDENTING 19L AS BEING ON MY LEFT (ERROR). CORRECTIVE ACTION: NEVER TAXI W/O AN ARPT DIAGRAM IN MY LAP. VERIFY AND DOUBLE CHK RWY AND TXWY IDENT. CONCERN: THIS ONE REALLY GOT MY ATTN. I COULD EASILY HAVE PRECIPITATED AN ACCIDENT.

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.

GA small aircraft took takeoff position on the wrong runway at las. Tower saw the error and changed takeoff clearance.