BE40 misinterps cvg 'into position and hold' as takeoff clearance.

Attributes
ACN	528653
Time
Date	200111
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cvg.airport
State Reference	KY
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Beechjet 400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : cvg.tower
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	ground : position and hold
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	528653
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	529425
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was taxiing to runway 27 at cvg for takeoff. Upon reaching the end of the runway, we tuned in the tower frequency. Very shortly after, tower called us and apparently said 'taxi into position and hold, traffic holding in position on runway 18R.' runway 18R is the only crossing runway for runway 27. At this point, both my copilot and I interpreted the last part of the tower's transmission to mean the other holding traffic was holding for us and that we should start our takeoff as soon as possible. We made a normal takeoff and climbed out. The first indication of a problem was when we were told to contact departure, at which time we were asked to call tower on the phone when we landed. When we called on the phone, we were told that tower had indeed wanted us to hold in position and that there was an airplane landing on runway 18R, maybe not holding in position on runway 18R as the first radio call from tower might have indicated. Apparently, no other aircraft needed to make any corrections due to our takeoff. My copilot and myself both feel that the first call made by the tower controller was misleading. I wish I, like I had done many times before, called for a clarification of our clearance and none of this would have happened. I'm not placing blame on the tower controller, only suggest may be a different choice of words would have prevented any confusion. Supplemental information from acn 529425: the captain did acknowledge clear for takeoff prior takeoff. Both pilots were in agreement that we were cleared for takeoff.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE40 MISINTERPS CVG 'INTO POS AND HOLD' AS TKOF CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS TAXIING TO RWY 27 AT CVG FOR TKOF. UPON REACHING THE END OF THE RWY, WE TUNED IN THE TWR FREQ. VERY SHORTLY AFTER, TWR CALLED US AND APPARENTLY SAID 'TAXI INTO POS AND HOLD, TFC HOLDING IN POS ON RWY 18R.' RWY 18R IS THE ONLY XING RWY FOR RWY 27. AT THIS POINT, BOTH MY COPLT AND I INTERPED THE LAST PART OF THE TWR'S XMISSION TO MEAN THE OTHER HOLDING TFC WAS HOLDING FOR US AND THAT WE SHOULD START OUR TKOF ASAP. WE MADE A NORMAL TKOF AND CLBED OUT. THE FIRST INDICATION OF A PROB WAS WHEN WE WERE TOLD TO CONTACT DEP, AT WHICH TIME WE WERE ASKED TO CALL TWR ON THE PHONE WHEN WE LANDED. WHEN WE CALLED ON THE PHONE, WE WERE TOLD THAT TWR HAD INDEED WANTED US TO HOLD IN POS AND THAT THERE WAS AN AIRPLANE LNDG ON RWY 18R, MAYBE NOT HOLDING IN POS ON RWY 18R AS THE FIRST RADIO CALL FROM TWR MIGHT HAVE INDICATED. APPARENTLY, NO OTHER ACFT NEEDED TO MAKE ANY CORRECTIONS DUE TO OUR TKOF. MY COPLT AND MYSELF BOTH FEEL THAT THE FIRST CALL MADE BY THE TWR CTLR WAS MISLEADING. I WISH I, LIKE I HAD DONE MANY TIMES BEFORE, CALLED FOR A CLARIFICATION OF OUR CLRNC AND NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. I'M NOT PLACING BLAME ON THE TWR CTLR, ONLY SUGGEST MAY BE A DIFFERENT CHOICE OF WORDS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED ANY CONFUSION. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 529425: THE CAPT DID ACKNOWLEDGE CLR FOR TKOF PRIOR TKOF. BOTH PLTS WERE IN AGREEMENT THAT WE WERE CLRED FOR TKOF.

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.