Narrative:

All planning was uneventful; including numerous weather briefs with duats and electronically filing my IFR flight plan. I started engines; obtained my IFR clearance from clearance delivery via radio and was issued an IFR clearance and beacon code; and instructed to call when number one for departure. After checking wind (I recall it being around 5 KTS from the south) and listening to traffic on CTAF; I decided to taxi to runway 17 for departure; and in fact had told clearance delivery I would be departing on runway 17 based on my first early listen to AWOS. I then taxied to runway 35 and not runway 17. As I listened on CTAF I noted a single-engine cessna in the pattern performing touch-and-goes on runway 17. I did not see this cessna; but my wife did see the aircraft as the pilot reported crosswind to downwind advisories on CTAF. There was a fly-in at the airport and numerous other traffic calls on CTAF frequency including a flight of three aircraft taxing for departure while the touch-and-go and other traffic were reporting various progress toward runway 17. I was very busy looking for all the traffic and trying to ascertain the status of the aircraft taxing to takeoff. Noting that the cessna in the pattern to runway 17 was early on downwind; I called clearance as instructed and was issued my IFR release; with an initial assigned heading of 330 degrees. I made a mental note that the initial heading would be a slight left turn after departing the runway; so at some level I realized I was about to depart on runway 35; not runway 17 as I had announced on CTAF and told clearance. I then announced on CTAF that I was taking runway 17 for takeoff and departing to the north. I made a final scan for traffic; did not see any traffic on either the approach or departure end of runway 35; took the runway; and began my takeoff roll. Within seconds I noted I was rolling for takeoff on runway 35 not runway 17 as I had announced; based on my heading being 350 degrees. I immediately powered down and exited the runway. Another aircraft; I do not know which other aircraft; also noted my roll on runway 35 and announced something like 'aerostar you are taking off on runway 35.' he; or someone; then asked; 'are you aborting the takeoff?' to which I responded yes; and that I was immediately exiting the runway; which I did at the first opportunity. I was well clear of the runway before any traffic landed on runway 17; but had I completed my takeoff; I would have needed to avoid the reported cessna soon to turn base to runway 17. I called clearance and let them know I would be delayed; had not departed; and was told they would hold my clearance until I called back number one for departure. I taxied and departed behind the flight of three aircraft that I had been monitoring on CTAF. I fly frequently here and know the runways; and the local traffic habits well. I was busy and for some reason; said runway 17; but taxied to runway 35. The wind varies so much; that I use all runways routinely; so have no real 'normal' runway for departure. I normally do check that my heading coincides with the runway before power-up for takeoff. In this case; I noted the 20 degree turn I needed to make; and all seemed correct. I stated runway 17; but was comfortable and felt right using runway 35. It was a mental check/discipline error. The airport was unusually busy; and I was busy as always in this phase of flight. I should have forced myself to make a visual on the cessna in the pattern; I did not see him because I looked the wrong direction for his early downwind. Nothing serious happened as I recognized the issue early enough; but I should have noticed this before taking the runway. I am adding a runway check to my final procedures before taking the runway; instead of aligned with the runway; and under pressure to depart.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An Aerostar pilot reports confusing Runway 35 with Runway 17 and attempted to takeoff against the traffic at an uncontrolled airport. Error was discovered by the reporter and others and the takeoff rejected.

Narrative: All planning was uneventful; including numerous weather briefs with DUATS and electronically filing my IFR flight plan. I started engines; obtained my IFR clearance from Clearance delivery via radio and was issued an IFR clearance and beacon code; and instructed to call when number one for departure. After checking wind (I recall it being around 5 KTS from the south) and listening to traffic on CTAF; I decided to taxi to Runway 17 for departure; and in fact had told clearance delivery I would be departing on Runway 17 based on my first early listen to AWOS. I then taxied to Runway 35 and not Runway 17. As I listened on CTAF I noted a single-engine Cessna in the pattern performing touch-and-goes on Runway 17. I did not see this Cessna; but my wife did see the aircraft as the pilot reported crosswind to downwind advisories on CTAF. There was a fly-in at the airport and numerous other traffic calls on CTAF frequency including a flight of three aircraft taxing for departure while the touch-and-go and other traffic were reporting various progress toward Runway 17. I was very busy looking for all the traffic and trying to ascertain the status of the aircraft taxing to takeoff. Noting that the Cessna in the pattern to Runway 17 was early on downwind; I called Clearance as instructed and was issued my IFR release; with an initial assigned heading of 330 degrees. I made a mental note that the initial heading would be a slight left turn after departing the runway; so at some level I realized I was about to depart on Runway 35; not Runway 17 as I had announced on CTAF and told Clearance. I then announced on CTAF that I was taking Runway 17 for takeoff and departing to the north. I made a final scan for traffic; did not see any traffic on either the approach or departure end of Runway 35; took the runway; and began my takeoff roll. Within seconds I noted I was rolling for takeoff on Runway 35 not Runway 17 as I had announced; based on my heading being 350 degrees. I immediately powered down and exited the runway. Another aircraft; I do not know which other aircraft; also noted my roll on Runway 35 and announced something like 'Aerostar you are taking off on Runway 35.' He; or someone; then asked; 'Are you aborting the takeoff?' to which I responded yes; and that I was immediately exiting the runway; which I did at the first opportunity. I was well clear of the runway before any traffic landed on Runway 17; but had I completed my takeoff; I would have needed to avoid the reported Cessna soon to turn base to Runway 17. I called Clearance and let them know I would be delayed; had not departed; and was told they would hold my clearance until I called back number one for departure. I taxied and departed behind the flight of three aircraft that I had been monitoring on CTAF. I fly frequently here and know the runways; and the local traffic habits well. I was busy and for some reason; said Runway 17; but taxied to Runway 35. The wind varies so much; that I use all runways routinely; so have no real 'normal' runway for departure. I normally do check that my heading coincides with the runway before power-up for takeoff. In this case; I noted the 20 degree turn I needed to make; and all seemed correct. I stated Runway 17; but was comfortable and felt right using Runway 35. It was a mental check/discipline error. The airport was unusually busy; and I was busy as always in this phase of flight. I should have forced myself to make a visual on the Cessna in the pattern; I did not see him because I looked the wrong direction for his early downwind. Nothing serious happened as I recognized the issue early enough; but I should have noticed this before taking the runway. I am adding a runway check to my final procedures before taking the runway; instead of aligned with the runway; and under pressure to depart.

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.