Narrative:

Transitioned to inner taxiway [a] from outer at taxiway [B] prior to assigned taxiway due to misidentification of the taxiway we were on. What led up to the event was poor signage of the taxiways; radio congestion; sorting out a weight and balance issue. During the event we visually cleared the taxiways adjacent ramp areas prior to our turning onto them. The outcome of the event was successful transition to the inner taxiway. Due to the signage we didn't realize that we hadn't used the assigned taxiway until on the inner taxiway. The instructions were issued when we were practically at the assigned taxiway as it is very close to the taxiway we turned on.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An air carrier Captain reported transitioning onto SFO Taxiway A from Taxiway B when the clearance was to use F1 because the signage at the the Taxiway A; B and F1 confluence did not clearly identify Taxiway F1 when approaching from the West.

Narrative: Transitioned to inner Taxiway [A] from outer at Taxiway [B] prior to assigned taxiway due to misidentification of the taxiway we were on. What led up to the event was poor signage of the taxiways; radio congestion; sorting out a weight and balance issue. During the event we visually cleared the taxiways adjacent ramp areas prior to our turning onto them. The outcome of the event was successful transition to the inner taxiway. Due to the signage we didn't realize that we hadn't used the assigned taxiway until on the inner taxiway. The instructions were issued when we were practically at the assigned taxiway as it is very close to the taxiway we turned on.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.