Cessna Citation Sovereign (C680)
Communication Breakdown
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff
Airport; Human Factors
After boarding passengers and starting engines; we notified Potomac that we were ready for departure Runway 17. We were informed that there would be a delay if we used 17; so we decided to depart Runway 35 to avoid the delay since winds were calm. There was one aircraft that departed 17 as we were taxiing to Runway 35 but heard and saw no other traffic. We were released by Potomac Departure from Runway 35 at which point we visually cleared the area left and right and transmitted our intentions on CTAF 122.97 that we were departing 35. We did hear another aircraft arriving from the north about 6 miles away but did not see them. After takeoff we were to make a sharp left turn and knew that that traffic would not be a factor. As soon as we took Runway 35 and advanced the power for takeoff my co pilot called airspeed alive and then declared he saw an airplane far down the runway. I yelled abort at a very low speed. Below 50 KTS. We had plenty of distance from the other airplane and watched them lift off and sidestep slightly to the right as we exited the runway. There was never any risk or danger to passengers and the other light single engine airplane passed abeam us about 400 feet. We never heard anything else on the radio and still had plenty of time on our clearance void time. With a brief explanation to our passengers and a short taxi back; we departed with no other interruption. We did not hear any other traffic on the frequency as we departed.
CE680 Captain reports rejecting a takeoff at low speed when an aircraft is sighted taking off in the opposite direction. No voice communication is ever established with the departing single engine aircraft.