Unauthorized takeoff. Role reversal problem.

Attributes
ACN	309580
Time
Date	199507
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : azo
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Other
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 24 flight time total : 8150 flight time type : 44
ASRS Report	309580
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At approximately XA00Z my copilot and I were preparing to depart the kalamazoo airport on runway 35 in the ford trimotor model at-5. I had provided the opportunity to the copilot to provide the takeoff while I performed the regular copilot duties. This included the reading of the appropriate checklists. I reported to the tower that we were ready for takeoff and understood that we were clear for takeoff only to discover that while making the takeoff run that the tower operator had only cleared us in position to hold. The tower operator brought this to our attention and stated that there was no conflict with traffic and did not call for an abort. Though neither myself nor my copilot recalled the hold order, we have no reason to dispute the fact that the tower did issue the proper communication. It seems that we were both established with a mindset that we had a takeoff clearance. I believe that my own distraction was due to the fact that I may have been more concerned with the control actions during the takeoff with a fairly inexperienced copilot. It is my guess that his concentration was zeroed in on the actual takeoff itself. The result was that we both 'underlistened.' this event has served to make me add 1 last procedure to the takeoff event. I plan hereafter to add 1 final verbal query to my copilot. It is: 'have you confirmed the takeoff clearance?'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH TKOF. ROLE REVERSAL PROB.

Narrative: AT APPROX XA00Z MY COPLT AND I WERE PREPARING TO DEPART THE KALAMAZOO ARPT ON RWY 35 IN THE FORD TRIMOTOR MODEL AT-5. I HAD PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO THE COPLT TO PROVIDE THE TKOF WHILE I PERFORMED THE REGULAR COPLT DUTIES. THIS INCLUDED THE READING OF THE APPROPRIATE CHKLISTS. I RPTED TO THE TWR THAT WE WERE READY FOR TKOF AND UNDERSTOOD THAT WE WERE CLR FOR TKOF ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT WHILE MAKING THE TKOF RUN THAT THE TWR OPERATOR HAD ONLY CLRED US IN POS TO HOLD. THE TWR OPERATOR BROUGHT THIS TO OUR ATTN AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH TFC AND DID NOT CALL FOR AN ABORT. THOUGH NEITHER MYSELF NOR MY COPLT RECALLED THE HOLD ORDER, WE HAVE NO REASON TO DISPUTE THE FACT THAT THE TWR DID ISSUE THE PROPER COM. IT SEEMS THAT WE WERE BOTH ESTABLISHED WITH A MINDSET THAT WE HAD A TKOF CLRNC. I BELIEVE THAT MY OWN DISTR WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I MAY HAVE BEEN MORE CONCERNED WITH THE CTL ACTIONS DURING THE TKOF WITH A FAIRLY INEXPERIENCED COPLT. IT IS MY GUESS THAT HIS CONCENTRATION WAS ZEROED IN ON THE ACTUAL TKOF ITSELF. THE RESULT WAS THAT WE BOTH 'UNDERLISTENED.' THIS EVENT HAS SERVED TO MAKE ME ADD 1 LAST PROC TO THE TKOF EVENT. I PLAN HEREAFTER TO ADD 1 FINAL VERBAL QUERY TO MY COPLT. IT IS: 'HAVE YOU CONFIRMED THE TKOF CLRNC?'

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.