Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10; Flight Crew Total 69; Flight Crew Type 69
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
I was flying a Cessna 172 on a solo cross country to ZZZ1 via ZZZ; I knew of glider activity in the area and upon arrival to ZZZ made radio contact with a glider pilot whose glider and two trucks were parked in the dirt near the end of runway 20. They requested I land a bit long and I complied without any problems. I made all of the proper radio calls and taxied back to 20 via Alpha taxiway. I stopped at the end of alpha and called letting ZZZ traffic know I was holding short of the active runway. The glider pilot then made a call that I was unfamiliar with and began driving a truck onto the active runway towing a glider for takeoff. I continued to hold short and watched the glider takeoff and depart to the left. I then looked down the runway and saw the truck which looked to have pulled off the end of the runway similar to how it had been parked the dirt on the other end runway only moments earlier. I visually verified that the glider was on the left side of the runway in what looked to be a left traffic pattern for 20. I called and announced my intent to enter the runway and takeoff with a right turn out to the north. After waiting a few seconds for a reply I heard what sounded like two clicks and static. I called asking for the individual to repeat and did not receive anything. I then entered the runway and began takeoff procedures. After lifting off I could then see that the truck had not exited the runway and was sitting on it still in the active runway. At this point I had already begun my climb and could not abort the takeoff safely. About this time the driver of the truck began to yell at me over the radio. I continued a safe climb out while calmly explaining to him that I announced I was entering the runway and even given extra time for a response; after not receiving any sort of response from the three calls I had made while on the taxiway I had concluded both visually and through radio communications that the runway was safe for my use.
C172 pilot reported he took off at a non-towered airport on a runway that had a truck parked on it when the truck failed to communicate effectively.