C172 PLT DEPARTS THE WRONG RWY AGAINST LNDG TRAFFIC AT PLU.
Synopsis
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.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.