A BE36 took off runway 32 after hearing what he thought was his call sign being given a takeoff clea...

Attributes
ACN	403440
Time
Date	199805
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : frg
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Bonanza 36
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 450 flight time type : 140
ASRS Report	403440
Person 2
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

On sunday I taxied to the active runway (runway 32), announced on tower frequency that I was ready for takeoff: 'bonanza xyz #1, west side, ready for takeoff.' the controller (female) came on and said: 'cessna xyz, hold short, landing traffic.' I responded: 'I am a bonanza xyz.' there was no other airplane ready for takeoff on the other side of the runway. Shortly after the plane landed, the controller came on (male): 'xyz ready for immediate takeoff?' I replied: 'yes, xyz.' controller: 'xyz cleared for takeoff, traffic 1 mi final.' I replied: 'cleared for takeoff requesting left downwind departure, xyz.' he replied: 'left downwind approved, start your roll.' I said: 'xyz.' while becoming airborne, the controller came on and said: 'xyz the takeoff clearance was not for you, it was for a cessna with a similar call sign, I will not pursue it this time but you should pay closer attention to the call sign.' I said I was sorry, but I was sure it was for me. All this conversation while I'm in a critical first phase of flight. I know for sure that he made an error and somehow had to cover himself, but by doing it he endangered my passenger and me. No one was cleared for takeoff after me until I was back beyond the departure end of the runway (left downwind departure).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE36 TOOK OFF RWY 32 AFTER HEARING WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS HIS CALL SIGN BEING GIVEN A TKOF CLRNC. AS THE BE36 WAS BECOMING AIRBORNE THE TWR SAID THE CLRNC WAS NOT FOR HIM, BUT WAS FOR A CESSNA ACFT WITH A SIMILAR CALL SIGN. RPTR FEELS THE TWR'S COMMENTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DELAYED UNTIL HE WAS NOT IN A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLT.

Narrative: ON SUNDAY I TAXIED TO THE ACTIVE RWY (RWY 32), ANNOUNCED ON TWR FREQ THAT I WAS READY FOR TKOF: 'BONANZA XYZ #1, W SIDE, READY FOR TKOF.' THE CTLR (FEMALE) CAME ON AND SAID: 'CESSNA XYZ, HOLD SHORT, LNDG TFC.' I RESPONDED: 'I AM A BONANZA XYZ.' THERE WAS NO OTHER AIRPLANE READY FOR TKOF ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RWY. SHORTLY AFTER THE PLANE LANDED, THE CTLR CAME ON (MALE): 'XYZ READY FOR IMMEDIATE TKOF?' I REPLIED: 'YES, XYZ.' CTLR: 'XYZ CLRED FOR TKOF, TFC 1 MI FINAL.' I REPLIED: 'CLRED FOR TKOF REQUESTING L DOWNWIND DEP, XYZ.' HE REPLIED: 'L DOWNWIND APPROVED, START YOUR ROLL.' I SAID: 'XYZ.' WHILE BECOMING AIRBORNE, THE CTLR CAME ON AND SAID: 'XYZ THE TKOF CLRNC WAS NOT FOR YOU, IT WAS FOR A CESSNA WITH A SIMILAR CALL SIGN, I WILL NOT PURSUE IT THIS TIME BUT YOU SHOULD PAY CLOSER ATTN TO THE CALL SIGN.' I SAID I WAS SORRY, BUT I WAS SURE IT WAS FOR ME. ALL THIS CONVERSATION WHILE I'M IN A CRITICAL FIRST PHASE OF FLT. I KNOW FOR SURE THAT HE MADE AN ERROR AND SOMEHOW HAD TO COVER HIMSELF, BUT BY DOING IT HE ENDANGERED MY PAX AND ME. NO ONE WAS CLRED FOR TKOF AFTER ME UNTIL I WAS BACK BEYOND THE DEP END OF THE RWY (L DOWNWIND DEP).

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.