Narrative:

I taxied my aircraft from the main terminal at sfz to runway 23 run-up area [which] was in use at the time. Upon completing my run-up and takeoff checklist I watched as an aircraft landed and was clearing the runway. I then positioned the citabria so I could look at the final approach of runway 23. Once I did position the aircraft and verified; at least as what I thought was no inbound aircraft to land; I then radioed; 'north central traffic citabria taking runway 23 for departure north central.' prior to moving I turned right and then left again checking for traffic. I then just started to move and I heard the pilot in [another] aircraft call and say 'citabria; piper short final.' I immediately stopped! The piper continued and performed a touch and go down the runway without incident as I was not on the runway. The instructor pilot of the piper did see me stop as he later told me. Again; once I stopped and within a second or two of me stopping I looked out the front and left side windows; the piper performed a touch and go down the runway uneventfully.I was not in a hurry at all as this was a pleasure flight. There was no rush and the weather was great. In fact I pulled off to the side as to let the engine warm up prior to completing the aircraft run-up and final takeoff checks.I continued to re-think (multiple/multiple/multiple times) why I missed hearing the other aircraft in the traffic pattern. There were two aircraft in the pattern that morning; the one I heard; watched land; and clear the runway; and the other I missed. The fact is I did hear the second aircraft; but did not associate the aircraft with sfz. The communications from the second aircraft were not the standard calls; I heard 'aircraft turning down wind to base' and 'aircraft turning base to final.' there was no airport; aircraft; or runway identifier during the pilot's radio transmissions. I remember thinking the calls I am hearing are not standard and I did not give them much thought after I heard them; just thought they are not standard and let it go.in rethinking this situation I questioned whether I looked long enough when I positioned my aircraft to look at the final. Was I too fast in my looking at the final approach already thinking there was no other aircraft in the pattern because of disregarding the radio transmissions? Did I look at the right places when looking at the final? Did I use the correct eye scan? Is there a blind spot in my aircraft?I think all of these questions of myself are valid. Given this is an uncontrolled field; radio communication is not required and I should always be considerate of all types of aircraft when at such airports. There is always the possibility of an aircraft with either no radio; a radio problem in the pattern and possibly landing; or anyone making a non-standard call. I positioned my aircraft 180 degrees to see the final as I was positioned into the wind for the run-up. I should have completed a 360 scan or at least a 270 degree scan pausing and looking and seeing. I also believe my high wing aircraft; because of how I positioned it; did block my scan and as such my scan was not completed as correctly as it should have been. All things I know! I communicated with the instructor pilot of the piper just a minute after via unicom and later that morning via phone. He indicated he saw me stop immediately and there was no issue at all.when considering the chain of events to this I concluded I need to consider; in all situations; but mostly at uncontrolled fields:*the possibility of an aircraft landing without a radio for any reason; be thinking of non-standard radio calls; and needing to be more vigilant with situational awareness;*complete a good and thorough 360 degree scan of the airport environment whenever possible/practicable prior to takeoff;*look and see and not just look (use good eye scan techniques and let your eyes tell you; not your mind tell your eyes); and*know your aircraft's blind spots!last but not least; thanks to the instructor pilot for his vigilance and calling; 'citabria; piper short final!'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Citabria pilot reported he began to taxi onto the runway at a non-Towered airport without seeing another light aircraft on short final.

Narrative: I taxied my aircraft from the main terminal at SFZ to Runway 23 run-up area [which] was in use at the time. Upon completing my run-up and takeoff checklist I watched as an aircraft landed and was clearing the runway. I then positioned the Citabria so I could look at the final approach of Runway 23. Once I did position the aircraft and verified; at least as what I thought was no inbound aircraft to land; I then radioed; 'North Central Traffic Citabria taking Runway 23 for departure North Central.' Prior to moving I turned right and then left again checking for traffic. I then just started to move and I heard the pilot in [another] aircraft call and say 'Citabria; Piper short final.' I immediately stopped! The Piper continued and performed a touch and go down the runway without incident as I was not on the runway. The instructor pilot of the Piper did see me stop as he later told me. Again; once I stopped and within a second or two of me stopping I looked out the front and left side windows; the Piper performed a touch and go down the runway uneventfully.I was not in a hurry at all as this was a pleasure flight. There was no rush and the weather was great. In fact I pulled off to the side as to let the engine warm up prior to completing the aircraft run-up and final takeoff checks.I continued to re-think (multiple/multiple/multiple times) why I missed hearing the other aircraft in the traffic pattern. There were two aircraft in the pattern that morning; the one I heard; watched land; and clear the runway; and the other I missed. The fact is I did hear the second aircraft; but did not associate the aircraft with SFZ. The communications from the second aircraft were not the standard calls; I heard 'aircraft turning down wind to base' and 'aircraft turning base to final.' There was no airport; aircraft; or runway identifier during the pilot's radio transmissions. I remember thinking the calls I am hearing are not standard and I did not give them much thought after I heard them; just thought they are not standard and let it go.In rethinking this situation I questioned whether I looked long enough when I positioned my aircraft to look at the final. Was I too fast in my looking at the final approach already thinking there was no other aircraft in the pattern because of disregarding the radio transmissions? Did I look at the right places when looking at the final? Did I use the correct eye scan? Is there a blind spot in my aircraft?I think all of these questions of myself are valid. Given this is an uncontrolled field; radio communication is not required and I should always be considerate of all types of aircraft when at such airports. There is always the possibility of an aircraft with either no radio; a radio problem in the pattern and possibly landing; or anyone making a non-standard call. I positioned my aircraft 180 degrees to see the final as I was positioned into the wind for the run-up. I should have completed a 360 scan or at least a 270 degree scan pausing and looking and seeing. I also believe my high wing aircraft; because of how I positioned it; did block my scan and as such my scan was not completed as correctly as it should have been. All things I know! I communicated with the instructor pilot of the Piper just a minute after via UNICOM and later that morning via phone. He indicated he saw me stop immediately and there was no issue at all.When considering the chain of events to this I concluded I need to consider; in all situations; but mostly at uncontrolled fields:*The possibility of an aircraft landing without a radio for any reason; be thinking of non-standard radio calls; and needing to be more vigilant with situational awareness;*Complete a good and thorough 360 degree scan of the airport environment whenever possible/practicable prior to takeoff;*Look and see and not just look (use good eye scan techniques and let your eyes tell you; not your mind tell your eyes); and*Know your aircraft's blind spots!Last but not least; thanks to the instructor pilot for his vigilance and calling; 'Citabria; Piper short final!'

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.