Narrative:

I received clearance for and taxied my small transport for an intersection #42 departure on runway 26R. I asked ground if there would be less delay for my 26L. They responded to the effect there would be little or no delay 26R. I contacted the tower and they advised to hold short. A short time later I thought I heard a 'cleared for takeoff' given. I thought it was for me. Looking down the runway (about 8000') I saw an airplane at the departure end and assumed they were holding for a clearance release. I responded to the tower with acknowledgement and taxied onto the runway, accelerated 30-40 KTS (approximately). I was then advised to abort the takeoff. I immediately closed the throttles and vacated the runway left between the lights. A few seconds later a heavy transport passed over the runway (I was off it) approximately 200' high. Ground advised little or no delay. I apparently assumed the next takeoff clearance was for me. There is normally at least a 3 minute delay departing behind a heavy jet aircraft. I'm almost certain that I acknowledged the takeoff clearance and that the tower didn't respond. It's possible they thought it was the other airplane. I always look down the active runway when I'm cleared for takeoff. The heavy transport appeared to be holding for clearance release and was 8000' away. Correction action: in the future, if there is any possibility of confusing a takeoff clearance I'll read it back and obtain tower verification. With all my experience and 30 yrs of flying, this is the first time something of this nature has happened to me, and it will not be repeated. My recall of the communications may not be exact or complete.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMT UNAUTH TKOF FROM ONT. TWR CALL ABORT AND AFTER SMT CLEARED THE RWY A HVT PASSED 200' OVERHEAD.

Narrative: I RECEIVED CLRNC FOR AND TAXIED MY SMT FOR AN INTXN #42 DEP ON RWY 26R. I ASKED GND IF THERE WOULD BE LESS DELAY FOR MY 26L. THEY RESPONDED TO THE EFFECT THERE WOULD BE LITTLE OR NO DELAY 26R. I CONTACTED THE TWR AND THEY ADVISED TO HOLD SHORT. A SHORT TIME LATER I THOUGHT I HEARD A 'CLRED FOR TKOF' GIVEN. I THOUGHT IT WAS FOR ME. LOOKING DOWN THE RWY (ABOUT 8000') I SAW AN AIRPLANE AT THE DEP END AND ASSUMED THEY WERE HOLDING FOR A CLRNC RELEASE. I RESPONDED TO THE TWR WITH ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND TAXIED ONTO THE RWY, ACCELERATED 30-40 KTS (APPROX). I WAS THEN ADVISED TO ABORT THE TKOF. I IMMEDIATELY CLOSED THE THROTTLES AND VACATED THE RWY LEFT BETWEEN THE LIGHTS. A FEW SECONDS LATER A HVT PASSED OVER THE RWY (I WAS OFF IT) APPROX 200' HIGH. GND ADVISED LITTLE OR NO DELAY. I APPARENTLY ASSUMED THE NEXT TKOF CLRNC WAS FOR ME. THERE IS NORMALLY AT LEAST A 3 MINUTE DELAY DEPARTING BEHIND A HEAVY JET ACFT. I'M ALMOST CERTAIN THAT I ACKNOWLEDGED THE TKOF CLRNC AND THAT THE TWR DIDN'T RESPOND. IT'S POSSIBLE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE OTHER AIRPLANE. I ALWAYS LOOK DOWN THE ACTIVE RWY WHEN I'M CLRED FOR TKOF. THE HVT APPEARED TO BE HOLDING FOR CLRNC RELEASE AND WAS 8000' AWAY. CORRECTION ACTION: IN THE FUTURE, IF THERE IS ANY POSSIBILITY OF CONFUSING A TKOF CLRNC I'LL READ IT BACK AND OBTAIN TWR VERIFICATION. WITH ALL MY EXPERIENCE AND 30 YRS OF FLYING, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SOMETHING OF THIS NATURE HAS HAPPENED TO ME, AND IT WILL NOT BE REPEATED. MY RECALL OF THE COMS MAY NOT BE EXACT OR COMPLETE.

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.