Narrative:

Low ceiling in the morning; didn't want to do an approach when I didn't know the new GPS. I had just gotten the bill when they pushed the plane out and it was more than the quote; mr. X wasn't there to discuss it. I didn't know how to use the new system; [someone] was going to show me but then he wasn't there. I had taken my airport diagram books out of the plane before I dropped it off; I knew I needed to able to find the safe taxi page.the new motor is still in the break in phase. Lycoming recommends three minutes from start up to take off until break in is complete. I used most of that trying to figure out the GPS. I was having trouble loading the way point then trying to find the safe taxi page. I gave up and called the tower. I told him I was ready to taxi but needed a progressive because I had just gotten a new panel and I wasn't familiar with how to use it.the tower told me to take a. Then talked to maintenance truck I think I then asked if I was on the right path; it seemed like extra talking in the back ground; I was having trouble hearing him. I went past the hold short which I thought I was supposed to do. He gave me a 180 degree and then another 180 degree and to stop at the hold short. He cleared me for takeoff. I guess I got confused at that point thinking I was lined up on the runway. I did my run up and immediately took off. I was given vectors twice.I was told to take a note down to call when I landed. I asked why and he said I had taken off on the taxiway.when I called; he asked me if I heard him tell me to stop and I said no. He said there was a plane about to enter the taxi from the other end. He asked me if I saw it. I said no. He said it seemed like I was taxing faster than normal; I told him I didn't think I was. Then I told him about the new motor.I realized while in the air the battery was dead on my headset. I have worked in the construction business running loud equipment all my life. My hearing is not what it used to be and the anr headsets greatly assist my ability to hear and comprehend radio communications in the otherwise loud aircraft environment. I do not often operate from tower controlled airports and I was unfamiliar with the newly installed aircraft avionics (garmin 750). All of these factors contributed to my difficulty in finding my way on the ground. In retrospect; I should have printed a copy of the airport diagram and reviewed it before taxiing; and I should have had the avionics shop show me how to pull up the safe taxi diagram (which was one of the reasons I upgraded the panel) so that I would know how to use it on the first flight.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: The Pilot of a Piper PA32-301 reported that due to not being familiar with the airport or the new GPS that was just installed; he took off from the Taxiway.

Narrative: Low ceiling in the morning; didn't want to do an approach when I didn't know the new GPS. I had just gotten the bill when they pushed the plane out and it was more than the quote; Mr. X wasn't there to discuss it. I didn't know how to use the new system; [someone] was going to show me but then he wasn't there. I had taken my airport diagram books out of the plane before I dropped it off; I knew I needed to able to find the safe taxi page.The new motor is still in the break in phase. Lycoming recommends three minutes from start up to take off until break in is complete. I used most of that trying to figure out the GPS. I was having trouble loading the way point then trying to find the safe taxi page. I gave up and called the tower. I told him I was ready to taxi but needed a progressive because I had just gotten a new panel and I wasn't familiar with how to use it.The tower told me to take A. Then talked to maintenance truck I think I then asked if I was on the right path; it seemed like extra talking in the back ground; I was having trouble hearing him. I went past the hold short which I thought I was supposed to do. He gave me a 180 degree and then another 180 degree and to stop at the hold short. He cleared me for takeoff. I guess I got confused at that point thinking I was lined up on the runway. I did my run up and immediately took off. I was given vectors twice.I was told to take a note down to call when I landed. I asked why and he said I had taken off on the taxiway.When I called; he asked me if I heard him tell me to stop and I said no. He said there was a plane about to enter the taxi from the other end. He asked me if I saw it. I said no. He said it seemed like I was taxing faster than normal; I told him I didn't think I was. Then I told him about the new motor.I realized while in the air the battery was dead on my headset. I have worked in the construction business running loud equipment all my life. My hearing is not what it used to be and the ANR headsets greatly assist my ability to hear and comprehend radio communications in the otherwise loud aircraft environment. I do not often operate from tower controlled airports and I was unfamiliar with the newly installed aircraft avionics (Garmin 750). All of these factors contributed to my difficulty in finding my way on the ground. In retrospect; I should have printed a copy of the airport diagram and reviewed it before taxiing; and I should have had the avionics shop show me how to pull up the safe taxi diagram (which was one of the reasons I upgraded the panel) so that I would know how to use it on the first flight.

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.