C172 pilot departs the wrong runway against landing traffic at plu.

Attributes
ACN	724864
Time
Date	200701
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : plu.airport
State Reference	WA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Ice
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 27 flight time total : 226 flight time type : 224
ASRS Report	724864
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action flight crew : became reoriented
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1800 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I taxied to the south run-up pad for runway 34. There were 2 other airplanes in the area; both of which were maneuvering to enter the traffic pattern and land with left traffic on runway 16; which they announced over the CTAF. As I taxied; I noted the windsock indicated calm winds; but it was oriented as though the winds had been from the north. This indication conflicted with the landing traffic. However; I did not recognize it immediately and continued with run-up. After completing run-up; I tuned and listened to the pierce county thun field ASOS on my #1 radio. It stated the winds were calm. I then taxied to the runway hold line; announced my intention to take off runway 16 and executed a short-field takeoff; when actually; I took off from runway 34 directly opposing the landing traffic. While in ground effect; with 10 degrees of flaps; I saw the #1 airplane in the pattern (C172) turn from base to final at approximately 500 ft AGL. Now at approximately 100 ft AGL; I immediately raised my flaps and climbed to the right of the runway centerline and entered a modified left traffic pattern. The pilot of the oncoming aircraft announced that he would go around and remain west of the runway. I exited the pattern downwind to the south.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT DEPARTS THE WRONG RWY AGAINST LNDG TRAFFIC AT PLU.

Narrative: I TAXIED TO THE S RUN-UP PAD FOR RWY 34. THERE WERE 2 OTHER AIRPLANES IN THE AREA; BOTH OF WHICH WERE MANEUVERING TO ENTER THE TFC PATTERN AND LAND WITH L TFC ON RWY 16; WHICH THEY ANNOUNCED OVER THE CTAF. AS I TAXIED; I NOTED THE WINDSOCK INDICATED CALM WINDS; BUT IT WAS ORIENTED AS THOUGH THE WINDS HAD BEEN FROM THE N. THIS INDICATION CONFLICTED WITH THE LNDG TFC. HOWEVER; I DID NOT RECOGNIZE IT IMMEDIATELY AND CONTINUED WITH RUN-UP. AFTER COMPLETING RUN-UP; I TUNED AND LISTENED TO THE PIERCE COUNTY THUN FIELD ASOS ON MY #1 RADIO. IT STATED THE WINDS WERE CALM. I THEN TAXIED TO THE RWY HOLD LINE; ANNOUNCED MY INTENTION TO TAKE OFF RWY 16 AND EXECUTED A SHORT-FIELD TKOF; WHEN ACTUALLY; I TOOK OFF FROM RWY 34 DIRECTLY OPPOSING THE LNDG TFC. WHILE IN GND EFFECT; WITH 10 DEGS OF FLAPS; I SAW THE #1 AIRPLANE IN THE PATTERN (C172) TURN FROM BASE TO FINAL AT APPROX 500 FT AGL. NOW AT APPROX 100 FT AGL; I IMMEDIATELY RAISED MY FLAPS AND CLBED TO THE R OF THE RWY CTRLINE AND ENTERED A MODIFIED L TFC PATTERN. THE PLT OF THE ONCOMING ACFT ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD GO AROUND AND REMAIN W OF THE RWY. I EXITED THE PATTERN DOWNWIND TO THE S.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.