Narrative:

We were flying ewr to mdt scheduled operation. WX conditions were VFR. Destination WX was clear 2 1/2 mi. We asked for a contact approach. Runway in use was 31 but an aircraft had just done an approach to 13. The winds were calm. We received a clearance for the contact approach. No runway was mentioned. We entered a left base turn for runway 13. We also had missed a radio call from approach to switch over to tower. We made contact with tower on a close in left base turn to runway 13. Tower asked if we were on the departure path to runway 31. We said yes. He had us go around for runway 31 and had an air carrier jet who just started his takeoff roll abort the takeoff. I think that I should have clarified the fact that I wanted runway 13 and not assumed that just because someone else landed on it I could use it. I assumed that cleared for the contact approach meant that I could use 13 or 31. We departed earlier in the morning on 13 and with calm wind conditions this is the runway that they use. I was also flying with a new first officer that should have spoken up if he thought something was wrong.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER FLT CREW ISSUED CONTACT APCH TO 31 CARRIES OUT APCH TO RWY 13. LCL CTLR CATCHES THE ERROR AND PREVENTS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

Narrative: WE WERE FLYING EWR TO MDT SCHEDULED OPERATION. WX CONDITIONS WERE VFR. DEST WX WAS CLEAR 2 1/2 MI. WE ASKED FOR A CONTACT APCH. RWY IN USE WAS 31 BUT AN ACFT HAD JUST DONE AN APCH TO 13. THE WINDS WERE CALM. WE RECEIVED A CLRNC FOR THE CONTACT APCH. NO RWY WAS MENTIONED. WE ENTERED A LEFT BASE TURN FOR RWY 13. WE ALSO HAD MISSED A RADIO CALL FROM APCH TO SWITCH OVER TO TWR. WE MADE CONTACT WITH TWR ON A CLOSE IN LEFT BASE TURN TO RWY 13. TWR ASKED IF WE WERE ON THE DEP PATH TO RWY 31. WE SAID YES. HE HAD US GO AROUND FOR RWY 31 AND HAD AN ACR JET WHO JUST STARTED HIS TKOF ROLL ABORT THE TKOF. I THINK THAT I SHOULD HAVE CLARIFIED THE FACT THAT I WANTED RWY 13 AND NOT ASSUMED THAT JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE LANDED ON IT I COULD USE IT. I ASSUMED THAT CLRED FOR THE CONTACT APCH MEANT THAT I COULD USE 13 OR 31. WE DEPARTED EARLIER IN THE MORNING ON 13 AND WITH CALM WIND CONDITIONS THIS IS THE RWY THAT THEY USE. I WAS ALSO FLYING WITH A NEW F/O THAT SHOULD HAVE SPOKEN UP IF HE THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

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