Narrative:

I was operating as tow pilot for my soaring club. As our club has done for many years with permission of the airport; we were operating from the grass west of and adjacent to runways 33/15. The skies were clear; ceiling unlimited and winds west-northwesterly varying as I recall plus or minus 20-30 degrees; at times a direct cross; at others quartering cross favoring runway 33. I had made several glider tows already that day and was consistently reaching 300-400 feet AGL before reaching the end of the pavement on 33. The traffic on the airport that day was light. Our glider club was operating one tow plane and one glider; a citation had arrived at some point during our ops; a cessna 180 or 206 had arrived and entered our pattern just previous; and as we were staged for departure (tow plane and sailplane); we heard a beech calling final for 33. We were physically unable to move both glider and tow plane further from the runway edge and simply waited for the beech to land. I watched the beech land and roll out on 33; heard its props reverse and watched him apparently stop on the runway; perhaps five hundred feet beyond the taxiway to the terminal. I expected him to turn around; back taxi 15 and clear the runway; but instead he began taxiing very slowly down runway 33; beyond the end of the runway and some 700 to 800+ feet over the displaced threshold. I didn't see his tail number; but called once to ask his intent. I believe I called again. I got no response. At that point I announced 'ZZZ traffic; bellanca abc departing runway 33; on the grass; glider in tow. 'I got the launch signal from the glider pilot; applied power and proceeded with a normal take-off; from the grass west of and adjacent to runway 33. I side-stepped approximately 50-75 feet west after airborne to keep the beech in sight. I remember seeing the shadow of both my plane and the sailplane I was towing; tracking directly down the centerline and over the beech as we climbed through 350-400 feet AGL. The beech was still on a general heading of 330; aligned with the centerline; and what stands out is the chevrons on the runway beneath him. He was stopped approximately fifty to 100 feet from end of the paved surface. Keep in mind the sun angle at 1700 local time. I file this report because I was made aware today that action is being taken against me by our airport manager. Upon retrospect; it could be argued that I should have waited for the beech to taxi back to the tarmac. But given the performance we were experiencing that day; I felt it safe to proceed with the departure. In the future; as discussed with fellow members of our club; we will simply wait.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Glider tow pilot reports departing from grass area to the west of the paved runway after a King Air had landed but had not cleared the runway.

Narrative: I was operating as tow pilot for my soaring club. As our club has done for many years with permission of the airport; we were operating from the grass west of and adjacent to runways 33/15. The skies were clear; ceiling unlimited and winds west-northwesterly varying as I recall plus or minus 20-30 degrees; at times a direct cross; at others quartering cross favoring runway 33. I had made several glider tows already that day and was consistently reaching 300-400 feet AGL before reaching the end of the pavement on 33. The traffic on the airport that day was light. Our glider club was operating one tow plane and one glider; a Citation had arrived at some point during our ops; a Cessna 180 or 206 had arrived and entered our pattern just previous; and as we were staged for departure (tow plane and sailplane); we heard a Beech calling final for 33. We were physically unable to move both glider and tow plane further from the runway edge and simply waited for the Beech to land. I watched the Beech land and roll out on 33; heard its props reverse and watched him apparently stop on the runway; perhaps five hundred feet beyond the taxiway to the terminal. I expected him to turn around; back taxi 15 and clear the runway; but instead he began taxiing very slowly down runway 33; beyond the end of the runway and some 700 to 800+ feet over the displaced threshold. I didn't see his tail number; but called once to ask his intent. I believe I called again. I got no response. At that point I announced 'ZZZ traffic; Bellanca ABC departing runway 33; on the grass; glider in tow. 'I got the launch signal from the glider pilot; applied power and proceeded with a normal take-off; from the grass west of and adjacent to runway 33. I side-stepped approximately 50-75 feet west after airborne to keep the beech in sight. I remember seeing the shadow of both my plane and the sailplane I was towing; tracking directly down the centerline and over the Beech as we climbed through 350-400 feet AGL. The Beech was still on a general heading of 330; aligned with the centerline; and what stands out is the chevrons on the runway beneath him. He was stopped approximately fifty to 100 feet from end of the paved surface. Keep in mind the sun angle at 1700 local time. I file this report because I was made aware today that action is being taken against me by our airport manager. Upon retrospect; it could be argued that I should have waited for the Beech to taxi back to the tarmac. But given the performance we were experiencing that day; I felt it safe to proceed with the departure. In the future; as discussed with fellow members of our club; we will simply wait.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.