Corp pilot started takeoff on taxiway.

Attributes
ACN	249017
Time
Date	199308
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rno
State Reference	NV
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 5700 flight time type : 470
ASRS Report	249017
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Although I have operated in and out of rno airport for at least 10 yrs, I was not familiar with recent taxiway changes adjacent to runway 34L. I lined up and began my takeoff roll on the taxiway to the left of the runway (34L). In that this is a single pilot operation, my initial attention was to the power indicators to set 'takeoff power.' after setting power, I looked up and realized my mistake. (I was unconcerned that there was no runway lights, as I assumed a displaced threshold.) I immediately moved the power levers into 'beta' and departed the taxiway at about 40 KTS. I didn't use brakes or try to veer to the left to follow the taxiway in fear that I might lose control. Fortunately, the planners and builders of the airport left no structures or ditches in their infield, and there was no damage other than to my ego and the passenger's nerves. Things done wrong: complacency (not reviewing airport plate). Assumption (thinking, not knowing there'd be a displaced threshold). Things done right: realizing mistake and going straight ahead, maintaining control.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORP PLT STARTED TKOF ON TXWY.

Narrative: ALTHOUGH I HAVE OPERATED IN AND OUT OF RNO ARPT FOR AT LEAST 10 YRS, I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH RECENT TXWY CHANGES ADJACENT TO RWY 34L. I LINED UP AND BEGAN MY TKOF ROLL ON THE TXWY TO THE L OF THE RWY (34L). IN THAT THIS IS A SINGLE PLT OP, MY INITIAL ATTN WAS TO THE PWR INDICATORS TO SET 'TKOF PWR.' AFTER SETTING PWR, I LOOKED UP AND REALIZED MY MISTAKE. (I WAS UNCONCERNED THAT THERE WAS NO RWY LIGHTS, AS I ASSUMED A DISPLACED THRESHOLD.) I IMMEDIATELY MOVED THE PWR LEVERS INTO 'BETA' AND DEPARTED THE TXWY AT ABOUT 40 KTS. I DIDN'T USE BRAKES OR TRY TO VEER TO THE L TO FOLLOW THE TXWY IN FEAR THAT I MIGHT LOSE CTL. FORTUNATELY, THE PLANNERS AND BUILDERS OF THE ARPT LEFT NO STRUCTURES OR DITCHES IN THEIR INFIELD, AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OTHER THAN TO MY EGO AND THE PAX'S NERVES. THINGS DONE WRONG: COMPLACENCY (NOT REVIEWING ARPT PLATE). ASSUMPTION (THINKING, NOT KNOWING THERE'D BE A DISPLACED THRESHOLD). THINGS DONE RIGHT: REALIZING MISTAKE AND GOING STRAIGHT AHEAD, MAINTAINING CTL.

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.