Small aircraft crossed an active runway in violation of ATC clearance.

Attributes
ACN	160648
Time
Date	199010
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bhm
State Reference	AL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 23 flight time total : 304 flight time type : 86
ASRS Report	160648
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : ground
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was located at hangar 1 (see airport diagram). My taxi instructions were, 'taxi to runway 18, hold short runway 23.' I then taxied to the intersection of november and golf. Being unfamiliar with the airport, I asked ground if I was to take the parallel to 18. Ground said, 'turn left and then right.' I interpreted this to mean taxi across 18 and turn right. At this point I was confused. I could not understand why he carried me over to runway 23. Ground then said, 'hold short of that runway. What are your intentions?' I said, 'to take off of runway 18.' ground said that I should have taken the parallel to 18. Remember, I asked him this at the intersection of november and golf. He then taxied me up 23 and I departed 18. I believe this occurrence happened for 2 reasons: my being unfamiliar with the airport, and the controller operating both ground and tower operations. It is possible that the controller confused me with another aircraft. However, I did comply with ATC instructions and should not be found in violation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA CROSSED AN ACTIVE RWY IN VIOLATION OF ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS LOCATED AT HANGAR 1 (SEE ARPT DIAGRAM). MY TAXI INSTRUCTIONS WERE, 'TAXI TO RWY 18, HOLD SHORT RWY 23.' I THEN TAXIED TO THE INTXN OF NOVEMBER AND GOLF. BEING UNFAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT, I ASKED GND IF I WAS TO TAKE THE PARALLEL TO 18. GND SAID, 'TURN LEFT AND THEN RIGHT.' I INTERPRETED THIS TO MEAN TAXI ACROSS 18 AND TURN RIGHT. AT THIS POINT I WAS CONFUSED. I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY HE CARRIED ME OVER TO RWY 23. GND THEN SAID, 'HOLD SHORT OF THAT RWY. WHAT ARE YOUR INTENTIONS?' I SAID, 'TO TAKE OFF OF RWY 18.' GND SAID THAT I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE PARALLEL TO 18. REMEMBER, I ASKED HIM THIS AT THE INTXN OF NOVEMBER AND GOLF. HE THEN TAXIED ME UP 23 AND I DEPARTED 18. I BELIEVE THIS OCCURRENCE HAPPENED FOR 2 REASONS: MY BEING UNFAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT, AND THE CTLR OPERATING BOTH GND AND TWR OPS. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CTLR CONFUSED ME WITH ANOTHER ACFT. HOWEVER, I DID COMPLY WITH ATC INSTRUCTIONS AND SHOULD NOT BE FOUND IN VIOLATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.