Narrative:

I began to taxi from the ramp at vsf in springfield; vermont. Earlier in the afternoon; a group was staging flights from a tent located on the turf adjacent to the mid-point of runway 23 on the northwest side of the runway. Glider operations were staged in a similar manner closer to the approach end of runway 23. Gliders and tow-planes were using both the paved runway and the turf on the southeast side of runway 23. As I taxied from the ramp in the late afternoon; it appeared that all flying activity had ceased. The tow-plane had taxied to the ramp for fuel; the group had gone; and staff was packing up and leaving. I taxied to the hold position short of runway 23 and performed a run-up. I could see that the mid-field tent had been removed and noticed some equipment was still at the glider staging area; but there appeared to be no activity. I scanned the pattern and did not see any traffic; nor had I heard any radio calls. I announced 'springfield traffic; back-taxi 23; springfield' and began the long back-taxi for departure on runway 23. Just as I was approaching the point on the runway short of the glider staging area where I would turn around for departure; I heard a radio call calmly announce 'we have a glider turning final; could you taxi to the side?' this was the first call I had heard since starting to taxi from the ramp. I immediately saw the glider and started a turn to the right to exit the runway on the southeast side. Then I remembered that gliders and tow-planes had been using both the pavement and grass on the southeast side of the runway. I didn't know if the glider intended to use pavement or grass; so I continued turning to the right and exited the runway on the northwest side of the runway as quickly as possible. At that point; I was off the runway; on the grass northwest of the runway; facing away from the approach end of runway 23; and could not see the glider land. I waited for a period of time that seemed more than adequate for the glider to land; then taxied slightly ahead and to the left on the turf so I could see the runway behind me. The glider had landed and come to a stop about 400 ft short of my position; so I taxied onto the runway and departed runway 23 without further complication. Although I scanned for traffic in the pattern and made the appropriate radio calls; I failed to see the glider until prompted by a radio call as it turned final. A couple of factors may have influenced my failure to see the traffic earlier. First; the appearance that all flying activities had ceased could have biased my expectations in favor of not seeing traffic. Second; as I neared my turn-around point for departure; my focus changed from watching the overall situation to planning and executing the turn-around. This event demonstrates the dramatic increase in safety that results from good radio communication.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A pilot at VSF reported completing a CTAF taxi report with no response but while taxing on Runway 23 was asked to exit the runway because of landing glider traffic which stopped 400 FT from him.

Narrative: I began to taxi from the ramp at VSF in Springfield; Vermont. Earlier in the afternoon; a group was staging flights from a tent located on the turf adjacent to the mid-point of Runway 23 on the northwest side of the runway. Glider operations were staged in a similar manner closer to the approach end of Runway 23. Gliders and tow-planes were using both the paved runway and the turf on the southeast side of Runway 23. As I taxied from the ramp in the late afternoon; it appeared that all flying activity had ceased. The tow-plane had taxied to the ramp for fuel; the group had gone; and staff was packing up and leaving. I taxied to the hold position short of Runway 23 and performed a run-up. I could see that the mid-field tent had been removed and noticed some equipment was still at the glider staging area; but there appeared to be no activity. I scanned the pattern and did not see any traffic; nor had I heard any radio calls. I announced 'Springfield traffic; back-taxi 23; Springfield' and began the long back-taxi for departure on Runway 23. Just as I was approaching the point on the runway short of the glider staging area where I would turn around for departure; I heard a radio call calmly announce 'We have a glider turning final; could you taxi to the side?' This was the first call I had heard since starting to taxi from the ramp. I immediately saw the glider and started a turn to the right to exit the runway on the southeast side. Then I remembered that gliders and tow-planes had been using both the pavement and grass on the southeast side of the runway. I didn't know if the glider intended to use pavement or grass; so I continued turning to the right and exited the Runway on the northwest side of the Runway as quickly as possible. At that point; I was off the Runway; on the grass northwest of the Runway; facing away from the approach end of Runway 23; and could not see the glider land. I waited for a period of time that seemed more than adequate for the glider to land; then taxied slightly ahead and to the left on the turf so I could see the Runway behind me. The glider had landed and come to a stop about 400 FT short of my position; so I taxied onto the runway and departed Runway 23 without further complication. Although I scanned for traffic in the pattern and made the appropriate radio calls; I failed to see the glider until prompted by a radio call as it turned final. A couple of factors may have influenced my failure to see the traffic earlier. First; the appearance that all flying activities had ceased could have biased my expectations in favor of not seeing traffic. Second; as I neared my turn-around point for departure; my focus changed from watching the overall situation to planning and executing the turn-around. This event demonstrates the dramatic increase in safety that results from good radio communication.

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.