Narrative:

Failure on the part of the pilot to maintain situational awareness resulted in departing from a closed runway contrary to issued ATC instructions. The pilot was on the third night shift and the duty day started at dusk. [Aircraft departed phx] for a flight conducted under VFR and utilized flight following [with center and] arrived approximately 44 minutes [later]. [Shortly after; aircraft] departed for phx. The flight was conducted under IFR. [The flight] arrived at phx; and 150 gallons of fuel was purchased. The pilot retired to the pilot ready room and awaited the return of the medical crew from the hospitali obtained the ATIS and class B departure instructions from clearance delivery. The instructions were 'cleared out of the class B airspace; fly runway heading and maintain at or below 4500; departure frequency… squawk '. I misread the squawk read-back; and [I] was corrected by the controller. I received taxi instructions; (sounded like one controller was working several positions: clearance; ground and possibly tower) to taxi to runway 07L via taxiway hotel; hotel 4; cross 7R and continue via taxiway foxtrot. I failed to read back the instruction verbatim; and [I] was corrected by the ground controller. I read back in entirety and I had the nos chart open to the airport diagram and the garmin 695 airport diagram open on the co-pilot yoke. After crossing runway 7R; I proceeded west on foxtrot and as I approached the departure end; the tower controller asked if I was ready to depart at which time I responded affirmative. I believe I responded to the tower controller on the ground frequency but I'm uncertain. I was issued takeoff clearance for runway 7L. I responded cleared for takeoff and advised him I was abeam golf 2 (for an unknown reason; I was fixated on 7R instead of 7L and lost situational awareness. At that same moment; the crew in the back made a comment to me to disregard their comments (unknown as to the context). I made a left turn on to runway 7R (believing I was on the correct runway); completed the takeoff checks and initiated the takeoff roll. As I broke ground I noticed the illuminated X (runway closed lighting) at the departure end. Tower advised me to turn right to 130; that I had just departed on a closed runway and to advise ready to copy a phone number for possible violations. After leveling off at assigned 4500 feet; I copied the number and [I] was asked to call the tower as soon as I landed.upon completion of the post flight functions; I contacted as requested. I provided my name and phone number and was told that someone would call me in the morning. I advised communications center that I was out of service for the rest of the night due to an earlier issue in phx. I received a call from director of operations at which time I explained the situation to him. He suggested that write a narrative while it was fresh in my mind. I texted chief pilot with a brief narrative of what had transpired.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Pilot reported departing from a closed runway contrary to issued ATC instructions.

Narrative: Failure on the part of the pilot to maintain situational awareness resulted in departing from a closed runway contrary to issued ATC instructions. The pilot was on the third night shift and the duty day started at dusk. [Aircraft departed PHX] for a flight conducted under VFR and utilized flight following [with center and] arrived approximately 44 minutes [later]. [Shortly after; aircraft] departed for PHX. The flight was conducted under IFR. [The flight] arrived at PHX; and 150 gallons of fuel was purchased. The pilot retired to the pilot ready room and awaited the return of the medical crew from the hospitalI obtained the ATIS and class B departure instructions from clearance delivery. The instructions were 'cleared out of the Class B airspace; fly runway heading and maintain at or below 4500; departure frequency… squawk '. I misread the squawk read-back; and [I] was corrected by the controller. I received taxi instructions; (sounded like one controller was working several positions: clearance; ground and possibly tower) to taxi to runway 07L via taxiway Hotel; Hotel 4; cross 7R and continue via taxiway Foxtrot. I failed to read back the instruction verbatim; and [I] was corrected by the ground controller. I read back in entirety and I had the NOS chart open to the airport diagram and the Garmin 695 airport diagram open on the co-pilot yoke. After crossing runway 7R; I proceeded west on Foxtrot and as I approached the departure end; the tower controller asked if I was ready to depart at which time I responded affirmative. I believe I responded to the tower controller on the ground frequency but I'm uncertain. I was issued takeoff clearance for runway 7L. I responded cleared for takeoff and advised him I was abeam Golf 2 (For an unknown reason; I was fixated on 7R instead of 7L and lost situational awareness. At that same moment; the crew in the back made a comment to me to disregard their comments (unknown as to the context). I made a left turn on to runway 7R (believing I was on the correct runway); completed the takeoff checks and initiated the takeoff roll. As I broke ground I noticed the illuminated X (runway closed lighting) at the departure end. Tower advised me to turn right to 130; that I had just departed on a closed runway and to advise ready to copy a phone number for possible violations. After leveling off at assigned 4500 feet; I copied the number and [I] was asked to call the tower as soon as I landed.Upon completion of the post flight functions; I contacted as requested. I provided my name and phone number and was told that someone would call me in the morning. I advised Communications Center that I was out of service for the rest of the night due to an earlier issue in PHX. I received a call from Director of Operations at which time I explained the situation to him. He suggested that write a narrative while it was fresh in my mind. I texted Chief Pilot with a brief narrative of what had transpired.

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.