Narrative:

Pilot of small aircraft contacted rdu ground with ATIS. Received clearance to taxi. Advised ground unfamiliar and was directed to proceed right on taxiway F. Pilot proceeded to taxi hold lines at run-up area, performed checklist after switching to tower frequency. From pilot position only signage visible was red sign for runway 5L/23R. Pilot advised by tower of no delay clearance for takeoff as heavy was approaching from taxiway F. Pilot accepted clearance, advised 'rolling' and inadvertently departed on taxiway B. Pilot observed excellent RVR and no traffic. There was no communication from tower as pilot rolled onto taxiway B which is very wide (perhaps an old runway) and has a somewhat faded but visible yellow centerline. On climb out, pilot advised by tower of takeoff from taxiway. Centerline not readily visible from low pilot position prior to lining up. Pilot corrective actions have consisted of complete review of all ground markings and reevaluation of need for complete familiarization with airport diagram before movement. Pilot feels that he perceived taxiway B to have ended before run-up area as no taxiway signs were readily visible and only runway sign visible. Pilot's normal time before takeoff roll was reduced somewhat by 'no delay' clearance which could have been passed. Pilot feels signage could be improved and charts improved to more clearly indicate potential for this problem. Also, perhaps ground personnel could be more aware of potential for pilot confusion. Pilot has inquired and been advised this has occurred before.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA MAKES TKOF ON TXWY.

Narrative: PLT OF SMA CONTACTED RDU GND WITH ATIS. RECEIVED CLRNC TO TAXI. ADVISED GND UNFAMILIAR AND WAS DIRECTED TO PROCEED R ON TXWY F. PLT PROCEEDED TO TAXI HOLD LINES AT RUN-UP AREA, PERFORMED CHKLIST AFTER SWITCHING TO TWR FREQ. FROM PLT POS ONLY SIGNAGE VISIBLE WAS RED SIGN FOR RWY 5L/23R. PLT ADVISED BY TWR OF NO DELAY CLRNC FOR TKOF AS HVY WAS APCHING FROM TXWY F. PLT ACCEPTED CLRNC, ADVISED 'ROLLING' AND INADVERTENTLY DEPARTED ON TXWY B. PLT OBSERVED EXCELLENT RVR AND NO TFC. THERE WAS NO COM FROM TWR AS PLT ROLLED ONTO TXWY B WHICH IS VERY WIDE (PERHAPS AN OLD RWY) AND HAS A SOMEWHAT FADED BUT VISIBLE YELLOW CTRLINE. ON CLBOUT, PLT ADVISED BY TWR OF TKOF FROM TXWY. CTRLINE NOT READILY VISIBLE FROM LOW PLT POS PRIOR TO LINING UP. PLT CORRECTIVE ACTIONS HAVE CONSISTED OF COMPLETE REVIEW OF ALL GND MARKINGS AND REEVALUATION OF NEED FOR COMPLETE FAMILIARIZATION WITH ARPT DIAGRAM BEFORE MOVEMENT. PLT FEELS THAT HE PERCEIVED TXWY B TO HAVE ENDED BEFORE RUN-UP AREA AS NO TXWY SIGNS WERE READILY VISIBLE AND ONLY RWY SIGN VISIBLE. PLT'S NORMAL TIME BEFORE TKOF ROLL WAS REDUCED SOMEWHAT BY 'NO DELAY' CLRNC WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN PASSED. PLT FEELS SIGNAGE COULD BE IMPROVED AND CHARTS IMPROVED TO MORE CLEARLY INDICATE POTENTIAL FOR THIS PROB. ALSO, PERHAPS GND PERSONNEL COULD BE MORE AWARE OF POTENTIAL FOR PLT CONFUSION. PLT HAS INQUIRED AND BEEN ADVISED THIS HAS OCCURRED BEFORE.

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.