A general aviation pilot experienced a runway incursion at BFI when hurrying pre-departure procedures and losing situational awareness; included is the controllers report on the same event.
Synopsis
A general aviation pilot experienced a runway incursion at BFI when hurrying pre-departure procedures and losing situational awareness; included is the controllers report on the same event.
Narrative
I contacted Ground on and had Tower in the alternate frequency. Ground Control gave permission to taxi to Runway 13R for a north departure. Ground Control; I think may have said to go to Alpha 9; which would have been a left turn from where my airplane is hangared. Thinking Runway 13R; I turned to the right and started taxing toward Alpha 1 for a full-length takeoff on 13R. While taxiing; Ground asked whether I could expedite or whether I would need to do a run-up. I said that I would need a run-up. Ground asked whether I could take-off within three minutes because a 787 was going to be taking off and otherwise I would be stuck waiting for awhile for turbulence. I said that I could make three minutes and did my run up magneto checks and propeller cycling while taxing. Ground came back on and said that I could have a full-length take-off on 13R. Instead of the usual stop in the run-up box followed by a switch to the Tower frequency with a call for a take-off clearance; I was hurrying and thought that I had gotten a clearance from the Tower to take-off full-length on Runway 13R. I taxied to the centerline and was doing a quick centerline check when I got a radio call. I answered and was told that I was still on Ground frequency. I switched frequencies immediately; identified myself; and asked whether Tower wanted me to turn off Runway 13R immediately. Tower said that was not necessary and that I was cleared to take-off on Runway 13R with a right downwind departure. When I landed back at BFI on 13L; and was taxiing back to the hangar; Ground Control gave me a number to call. I called the Tower and apologized for the runway incursion and said that I wouldn't make that mistake again. I got rushed; didn't follow my normal procedures for a run-up followed by a call to the Tower while remaining behind the hold-short line. Because of hurrying; I thought that I had been cleared by the Tower to take-off from Runway 13R when I had only been cleared by Ground to taxi to Runway 13R. I did check for incoming aircraft before taxiing onto the runway. My first mistake was to taxi the wrong direction; which was due to my expectation that I would take-off from the end of 13R like I had always done before. My second mistake was trying to do too much too quickly to accommodate the request to expedite. In trying to hurry and do a run-up on the taxi; I disrupted my normal procedures; split my attention between what was being said to me and trying to taxi; do magneto checks; prop cycling and checklist reading and misheard and misunderstood what was being said to me. I did not stop clear of the hold-short line; though I was thinking that I had never before taxied right onto the runway like that. When Ground called to say that I was still on the Ground frequency; I realized that I had never been cleared onto the runway because I had never been talking with the Tower.
Second reporter narrative
I was working Local East/West and CIC. I heard Ground taxi Aircraft X to Runway 13R. A few minutes later; with Ground's approval; I cleared a helicopter for takeoff from pad 2 which is located on the northeast corner of Taxiway Alpha. The helicopter was headed to the northwest and requested to cross the approach end of the runway. I approved this operation and as my scan moved to the west across the runway I noticed that there was an aircraft approaching the runway hold short lines and did not appear to be slowing down. He never contacted Ground or Tower after his run-up. At this point I tried to contact the aircraft multiple times. I had no other traffic for the runway. The aircraft entered the runway and lined up as if position and held. After 4-6 tries the aircraft finally answered and said that he was sorry and asked if he needed to taxi of the runway. I cleared the aircraft for takeoff and he departed on a right downwind to the northwest.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.