GA charter small transport made a takeoff on the wrong runway at oma.

Attributes
ACN	196738
Time
Date	199112
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oma
State Reference	NE
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : oma
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 95 flight time total : 2850 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	196738
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Middle of night, unfamiliar airport. I was called out on an air ambulance flight from lit to oma and back. Taxiing for departure from east GA ramp, ground control and tower was the same person. I was unfamiliar with the airport and was receiving progressive taxi instructions to runway 14L. As I had completed the before takeoff checks on the ramp I was ready for departure at the end of 14L. As I rounded the corner I switched to the tower frequency. Before I could call him the tower asked me if I was ready and said yes and was cleared for takeoff. The approach end of 14L connects to runway 17 which is much wider and more visible. Considering the above factors it is very easy to inadvertently line up on either runway at that point. Again being unfamiliar and making a rolling takeoff without stopping at the approach end I began the takeoff on 17. After getting takeoff power set and checking the engine instruments for any abnormality I noticed my heading indicator was about halfway between 140 and 170 at which point the thought flashed through my mind that I could be on the wrong runway. This was at the point of rotation so I continued the takeoff in the interest of safety. After takeoff the tower handed me off to departure and informed me that I took off on 17. I think that there should be better markings distinguishing the 2 runways.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA CHARTER SMT MADE A TKOF ON THE WRONG RWY AT OMA.

Narrative: MIDDLE OF NIGHT, UNFAMILIAR ARPT. I WAS CALLED OUT ON AN AIR AMBULANCE FLT FROM LIT TO OMA AND BACK. TAXIING FOR DEP FROM E GA RAMP, GND CTL AND TWR WAS THE SAME PERSON. I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT AND WAS RECEIVING PROGRESSIVE TAXI INSTRUCTIONS TO RWY 14L. AS I HAD COMPLETED THE BEFORE TKOF CHKS ON THE RAMP I WAS READY FOR DEP AT THE END OF 14L. AS I ROUNDED THE CORNER I SWITCHED TO THE TWR FREQ. BEFORE I COULD CALL HIM THE TWR ASKED ME IF I WAS READY AND SAID YES AND WAS CLRED FOR TKOF. THE APCH END OF 14L CONNECTS TO RWY 17 WHICH IS MUCH WIDER AND MORE VISIBLE. CONSIDERING THE ABOVE FACTORS IT IS VERY EASY TO INADVERTENTLY LINE UP ON EITHER RWY AT THAT POINT. AGAIN BEING UNFAMILIAR AND MAKING A ROLLING TKOF WITHOUT STOPPING AT THE APCH END I BEGAN THE TKOF ON 17. AFTER GETTING TKOF PWR SET AND CHKING THE ENG INSTS FOR ANY ABNORMALITY I NOTICED MY HDG INDICATOR WAS ABOUT HALFWAY BTWN 140 AND 170 AT WHICH POINT THE THOUGHT FLASHED THROUGH MY MIND THAT I COULD BE ON THE WRONG RWY. THIS WAS AT THE POINT OF ROTATION SO I CONTINUED THE TKOF IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY. AFTER TKOF THE TWR HANDED ME OFF TO DEP AND INFORMED ME THAT I TOOK OFF ON 17. I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE BETTER MARKINGS DISTINGUISHING THE 2 RWYS.

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.