Pilot of small transport questions ATC departure clearance.

Attributes
ACN	282587
Time
Date	199409
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : t02
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iah
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 11000
ASRS Report	282587
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Takeoff on runway 14R at a very small airport only 6 mi from hou airport. There is a 1200 ft tower 3 mi south and 20 degrees to right of centerline. Clearance delivery (rco) gave me departure instructions to turn right to heading 120 degrees after takeoff and maintain 2000 ft. (Our on course heading was 230 degrees.) I asked the clearance delivery guy 'I am using runway 14R for takeoff -- are you sure you want me to turn right to heading 120 degrees?' he confirmed the right turn. I flew the departure and right turn as instructed. The clearance delivery guy also apparently missed assigning me the correct departure frequency. When I got to the correct departure frequency, the controller acted as if he had really wanted to talk to me (perhaps when he saw the right turn), but by that time I was steady on heading 120 degrees. I think the clearance delivery guy had a mindset for me using runway 32 and did not recognize the direction of turn was wrong.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMT QUESTIONS ATC DEP CLRNC.

Narrative: TKOF ON RWY 14R AT A VERY SMALL ARPT ONLY 6 MI FROM HOU ARPT. THERE IS A 1200 FT TWR 3 MI S AND 20 DEGS TO R OF CTRLINE. CLRNC DELIVERY (RCO) GAVE ME DEP INSTRUCTIONS TO TURN R TO HDG 120 DEGS AFTER TKOF AND MAINTAIN 2000 FT. (OUR ON COURSE HDG WAS 230 DEGS.) I ASKED THE CLRNC DELIVERY GUY 'I AM USING RWY 14R FOR TKOF -- ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT ME TO TURN R TO HDG 120 DEGS?' HE CONFIRMED THE R TURN. I FLEW THE DEP AND R TURN AS INSTRUCTED. THE CLRNC DELIVERY GUY ALSO APPARENTLY MISSED ASSIGNING ME THE CORRECT DEP FREQ. WHEN I GOT TO THE CORRECT DEP FREQ, THE CTLR ACTED AS IF HE HAD REALLY WANTED TO TALK TO ME (PERHAPS WHEN HE SAW THE R TURN), BUT BY THAT TIME I WAS STEADY ON HDG 120 DEGS. I THINK THE CLRNC DELIVERY GUY HAD A MINDSET FOR ME USING RWY 32 AND DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE DIRECTION OF TURN WAS WRONG.

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.