Narrative:

I flew from home base airport to a small airport. I landed and taxied back; uphill I noticed. I shutdown and used the self-service gas pump and the restroom; then started the engine; taxied maybe 250 feet to the runway; self-announced taking the runway; put in full power; self-announced takeoff; and let go of the brakes. At just about liftoff speed; I saw another plane on the runway on a back taxi toward me. It seemed best to continue the takeoff since I was just about airborne and there was no accident this time. The pilot called on unicom and I responded that I had not seen him and got declared a moron for not listening on the radio as I should have heard him call approaching; landing; and the back taxi. I apologized profusely and while I can't deny the moron part; I was listening to the radio since mere moments after engine start. There was such a short amount of time from my engine start to takeoff roll that I am sure most of those radio calls came before my engine start; so I never heard them. I did hear a plane while I was in the bathroom; but thought it was a takeoff or missed approach or maybe a go around. I don't know why the pilot on the back taxi did not hear my radio calls; but maybe he was an instructor or with a passenger and my two short radio calls; seconds apart; came at a bad time. I don't know if he really was clearing the runway as fast as reasonable or doing some ground instruction on the runway; meaning his call about starting to back taxi could have been minutes before my engine start. Our radios both worked and we were on the right frequency or we could not have had the conversation after I took off.what to do different?my habit of making a radio call before taking the runway and before takeoff is not good enough when the engine is already warm and the taxi is so very short. I need more listening time and to transmit multiple times; but with time between the transmissions. Next time; I'll make a radio call about my intention to take the runway as soon as I start the engine and also at the hold line. I'll also try to think more about situational awareness while on the ground; try not to make assumptions about the meaning of the airplane noises I do hear; and specifically note the crown on the runway and how far down it I can actually see. During back taxi; going slow and uphill; I might even make a second call announcing that I am still on the runway if I realize I would be unable to see an airplane on the other end. Small airports can be like back country roads; there might not be another soul for hours; but somehow you always meet at a blind curve; better to assume there will be somebody else there until proven otherwise.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA pilot reported landing at an uncontrolled airport for fuel and a bathroom break. The taxi from the fuel pump to the runway was very short and the reporter announced his intentions and taking the runway on CTAF. At near rotate speed another aircraft is sighted back taxiing on the runway. The takeoff was continued and words exchanged on Unicom.

Narrative: I flew from home base airport to a small airport. I landed and taxied back; uphill I noticed. I shutdown and used the self-service gas pump and the restroom; then started the engine; taxied maybe 250 feet to the runway; self-announced taking the runway; put in full power; self-announced takeoff; and let go of the brakes. At just about liftoff speed; I saw another plane on the runway on a back taxi toward me. It seemed best to continue the takeoff since I was just about airborne and there was no accident this time. The pilot called on Unicom and I responded that I had not seen him and got declared a moron for not listening on the radio as I should have heard him call approaching; landing; and the back taxi. I apologized profusely and while I can't deny the moron part; I was listening to the radio since mere moments after engine start. There was such a short amount of time from my engine start to takeoff roll that I am sure most of those radio calls came before my engine start; so I never heard them. I did hear a plane while I was in the bathroom; but thought it was a takeoff or missed approach or maybe a go around. I don't know why the pilot on the back taxi did not hear my radio calls; but maybe he was an instructor or with a passenger and my two short radio calls; seconds apart; came at a bad time. I don't know if he really was clearing the runway as fast as reasonable or doing some ground instruction on the runway; meaning his call about starting to back taxi could have been minutes before my engine start. Our radios both worked and we were on the right frequency or we could not have had the conversation after I took off.What to do different?My habit of making a radio call before taking the runway and before takeoff is not good enough when the engine is already warm and the taxi is so very short. I need more listening time and to transmit multiple times; but with time between the transmissions. Next time; I'll make a radio call about my intention to take the runway as soon as I start the engine and also at the hold line. I'll also try to think more about situational awareness while on the ground; try not to make assumptions about the meaning of the airplane noises I do hear; and specifically note the crown on the runway and how far down it I can actually see. During back taxi; going slow and uphill; I might even make a second call announcing that I am still on the runway if I realize I would be unable to see an airplane on the other end. Small airports can be like back country roads; there might not be another soul for hours; but somehow you always meet at a blind curve; better to assume there will be somebody else there until proven otherwise.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.