Narrative:

We had received a lengthy delay at hou due to an unrelated maintenance problem and had finally gotten clearance to taxi to runway 12R via taxiway delta. We were switched to tower and told to cross 12L and hold short of 12R. Due to the hurried nature of our departure we had completed the taxi checklist, but that the before takeoff checklists. We then got a call from the tower for position and hold on runway 12R. We notified the F/a's and started the takeoff checklist. As we taxied onto 12R, the tower gave us a clearance for immediate takeoff on runway 12R with approaching traffic on a 3 mi final. We had talked earlier about the necessity to check runway heading and the HSI on this runway at this airport because runway 17 and runway 12R intersect at the point where the takeoff roll begins and can be easily confused. However, we were distracted and hurried when given an immediate takeoff clearance, with landing traffic on a 3 mi final, and neither one of us did in fact check the runway heading. After takeoff we were told by tower that we had taken off on runway 17 instead of runway 12R as cleared. As possible contributing factor to this event is the fact that we used taxiway D to the runway. At other times I have been cleared to runway 12R via taxiway east or 'the red line,' which helps lessen the chance of taking off on runway 17 instead of 12R.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLEARED FOR TKOF ON RWY 12R AT HOU, BUT TKOF ON RWY 17 INSTEAD.

Narrative: WE HAD RECEIVED A LENGTHY DELAY AT HOU DUE TO AN UNRELATED MAINT PROB AND HAD FINALLY GOTTEN CLRNC TO TAXI TO RWY 12R VIA TXWY DELTA. WE WERE SWITCHED TO TWR AND TOLD TO CROSS 12L AND HOLD SHORT OF 12R. DUE TO THE HURRIED NATURE OF OUR DEP WE HAD COMPLETED THE TAXI CHKLIST, BUT THAT THE BEFORE TKOF CHKLISTS. WE THEN GOT A CALL FROM THE TWR FOR POS AND HOLD ON RWY 12R. WE NOTIFIED THE F/A'S AND STARTED THE TKOF CHKLIST. AS WE TAXIED ONTO 12R, THE TWR GAVE US A CLRNC FOR IMMEDIATE TKOF ON RWY 12R WITH APCHING TFC ON A 3 MI FINAL. WE HAD TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE NECESSITY TO CHK RWY HDG AND THE HSI ON THIS RWY AT THIS ARPT BECAUSE RWY 17 AND RWY 12R INTERSECT AT THE POINT WHERE THE TKOF ROLL BEGINS AND CAN BE EASILY CONFUSED. HOWEVER, WE WERE DISTRACTED AND HURRIED WHEN GIVEN AN IMMEDIATE TKOF CLRNC, WITH LNDG TFC ON A 3 MI FINAL, AND NEITHER ONE OF US DID IN FACT CHK THE RWY HDG. AFTER TKOF WE WERE TOLD BY TWR THAT WE HAD TAKEN OFF ON RWY 17 INSTEAD OF RWY 12R AS CLRED. AS POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THIS EVENT IS THE FACT THAT WE USED TXWY D TO THE RWY. AT OTHER TIMES I HAVE BEEN CLRED TO RWY 12R VIA TXWY E OR 'THE RED LINE,' WHICH HELPS LESSEN THE CHANCE OF TAKING OFF ON RWY 17 INSTEAD OF 12R.

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.