An small aircraft pilot, off frequency from tower, with a formation flight of 2, delays his takeoff ...

Attributes
ACN	519341
Time
Date	200107
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : osh.airport
State Reference	WI
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ags.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : osh.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15750
ASRS Report	519341
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : gnd 4
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport Flight Crew Human Performance Chart Or Publication ATC Facility
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

My airplane was leading a flight of 2 sx-300 homebuilt airplanes departing oshkosh on jul/xa/01. I received the standard departure briefing and the enclosed card. Please note the emphasis on the mobile controller units. I taxied with my wing man to runway 18R and was hand signaled forward by controllers at the west edge of the taxiway. At this point, I looked for the signal men I had expected on the runway. (I have flown to oshkosh since 1972, and the system has always been the same.) the tower frequency 118.9 was silent, but that is consistent with my past experience. As I turned right (east) I saw no other signal men. I hesitated, cleared the runway and pattern visually and taxied into position. I hesitated, looked right and saw the FAA signal man frantically motioning me to take off, which I did. On departure, my wing man told me that the tower was talking and doing the controling (a procedure I have never seen since 1972 -- and one inconsistent with the enclosed briefing card). It turns out that I had tuned 118.8 rather than 118.9, explaining the silence. Familiarity and complacency on my part, and an inconsistent procedure which is a contradiction to the departure briefing and card are contributing factors. The silence on the (incorrect) frequency, was consistent with my past experience and I did not question the lack of runway signal men.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT, OFF FREQ FROM TWR, WITH A FORMATION FLT OF 2, DELAYS HIS TKOF WHILE LOOKING FOR A NON EXISTENT FLAG MAN ON THE RWY AT OSHKOSH, WI.

Narrative: MY AIRPLANE WAS LEADING A FLT OF 2 SX-300 HOMEBUILT AIRPLANES DEPARTING OSHKOSH ON JUL/XA/01. I RECEIVED THE STANDARD DEP BRIEFING AND THE ENCLOSED CARD. PLEASE NOTE THE EMPHASIS ON THE MOBILE CTLR UNITS. I TAXIED WITH MY WING MAN TO RWY 18R AND WAS HAND SIGNALED FORWARD BY CTLRS AT THE W EDGE OF THE TXWY. AT THIS POINT, I LOOKED FOR THE SIGNAL MEN I HAD EXPECTED ON THE RWY. (I HAVE FLOWN TO OSHKOSH SINCE 1972, AND THE SYS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME.) THE TWR FREQ 118.9 WAS SILENT, BUT THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH MY PAST EXPERIENCE. AS I TURNED R (E) I SAW NO OTHER SIGNAL MEN. I HESITATED, CLRED THE RWY AND PATTERN VISUALLY AND TAXIED INTO POS. I HESITATED, LOOKED R AND SAW THE FAA SIGNAL MAN FRANTICALLY MOTIONING ME TO TAKE OFF, WHICH I DID. ON DEP, MY WING MAN TOLD ME THAT THE TWR WAS TALKING AND DOING THE CTLING (A PROC I HAVE NEVER SEEN SINCE 1972 -- AND ONE INCONSISTENT WITH THE ENCLOSED BRIEFING CARD). IT TURNS OUT THAT I HAD TUNED 118.8 RATHER THAN 118.9, EXPLAINING THE SILENCE. FAMILIARITY AND COMPLACENCY ON MY PART, AND AN INCONSISTENT PROC WHICH IS A CONTRADICTION TO THE DEP BRIEFING AND CARD ARE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. THE SILENCE ON THE (INCORRECT) FREQ, WAS CONSISTENT WITH MY PAST EXPERIENCE AND I DID NOT QUESTION THE LACK OF RWY SIGNAL MEN.

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.

An small aircraft pilot, off frequency from tower, with a formation flight of 2, delays his takeoff while looking for a non existent flag man on the runway at oshkosh, wi.