A C210 taxied into position on sts active runway without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	425558
Time
Date	199901
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sts
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C, 210D
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 1477 flight time type : 750
ASRS Report	425558
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After runup prior to an instrument training flight, I thought the controller asked me to 'taxi into position and hold.' I probably answered 'position and hold' and he thought I said 'hold short.' I taxied onto the runway and he said that I had not been cleared onto the runway, but I should hold my position. Within 30 seconds he cleared me for takeoff. There was no conflict with another aircraft. Good example of poor communication between pilot and controller.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C210 TAXIED INTO POS ON STS ACTIVE RWY WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: AFTER RUNUP PRIOR TO AN INST TRAINING FLT, I THOUGHT THE CTLR ASKED ME TO 'TAXI INTO POS AND HOLD.' I PROBABLY ANSWERED 'POS AND HOLD' AND HE THOUGHT I SAID 'HOLD SHORT.' I TAXIED ONTO THE RWY AND HE SAID THAT I HAD NOT BEEN CLRED ONTO THE RWY, BUT I SHOULD HOLD MY POS. WITHIN 30 SECONDS HE CLRED ME FOR TKOF. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER ACFT. GOOD EXAMPLE OF POOR COM BTWN PLT AND CTLR.

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.