Wrong runway takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	208866
Time
Date	199205
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : crw
State Reference	WV
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : apa
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 88 flight time total : 8000
ASRS Report	208866
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Takeoff clearance was for runway 15 with a right turn to south. The usual clearance is for a taxiway bravo or runway 33 with a 'left turn prior to the tower.' I heard, understood and acknowledged the runway 15 clearance but initiated takeoff in the opposite direction out of habit. Obviously my mind was not focused on the task at hand (takeoff). I had lapsed into a habit pattern. This incident will be shared with other company pilots to avoid a similar incident and to emphasize the need to stay mentally focused.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WRONG RWY TKOF.

Narrative: TKOF CLRNC WAS FOR RWY 15 WITH A R TURN TO S. THE USUAL CLRNC IS FOR A TAXIWAY BRAVO OR RWY 33 WITH A 'L TURN PRIOR TO THE TWR.' I HEARD, UNDERSTOOD AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE RWY 15 CLRNC BUT INITIATED TKOF IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OUT OF HABIT. OBVIOUSLY MY MIND WAS NOT FOCUSED ON THE TASK AT HAND (TKOF). I HAD LAPSED INTO A HABIT PATTERN. THIS INCIDENT WILL BE SHARED WITH OTHER COMPANY PLTS TO AVOID A SIMILAR INCIDENT AND TO EMPHASIZE THE NEED TO STAY MENTALLY FOCUSED.

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.