Narrative:

Our aircraft had landed on runway 15 at dca. We slowed almost to a stop abeam taxiway microphone. This would have been our first available taxiway to the terminal. It was then the tower controller said, 'taxi to the next and hold short of 21.' when we continued taxiing looking for 'the next' (assuming taxiway) we came to runway 21. We stopped just short of runway 21, as an aircraft was turning final. After we had stopped the controller had asked us to expedite across 21 and proceed to foxtrot and hold short of 21. There was no conflict that resulted. To get to 'the next' taxiway we would have to cross 21 prior to reaching taxiway foxtrot. Or by 'the next,' did he mean runway 21? In any case, he did say to hold short of 21. At the time, given his instructions to us, it was unclear as to whether we had clearance to cross runway 21. After assessing the situation we feel this unclarity of meaning could have been avoided had the controller stated, 'proceed across runway 21 to foxtrot and hold short of 21.'

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER LNDG TAXI INSTRUCTIONS EXTREMELY AMBIGUOUS.

Narrative: OUR ACFT HAD LANDED ON RWY 15 AT DCA. WE SLOWED ALMOST TO A STOP ABEAM TXWY MIKE. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN OUR FIRST AVAILABLE TXWY TO THE TERMINAL. IT WAS THEN THE TWR CTLR SAID, 'TAXI TO THE NEXT AND HOLD SHORT OF 21.' WHEN WE CONTINUED TAXIING LOOKING FOR 'THE NEXT' (ASSUMING TXWY) WE CAME TO RWY 21. WE STOPPED JUST SHORT OF RWY 21, AS AN ACFT WAS TURNING FINAL. AFTER WE HAD STOPPED THE CTLR HAD ASKED US TO EXPEDITE ACROSS 21 AND PROCEED TO FOXTROT AND HOLD SHORT OF 21. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT THAT RESULTED. TO GET TO 'THE NEXT' TXWY WE WOULD HAVE TO CROSS 21 PRIOR TO REACHING TXWY FOXTROT. OR BY 'THE NEXT,' DID HE MEAN RWY 21? IN ANY CASE, HE DID SAY TO HOLD SHORT OF 21. AT THE TIME, GIVEN HIS INSTRUCTIONS TO US, IT WAS UNCLEAR AS TO WHETHER WE HAD CLRNC TO CROSS RWY 21. AFTER ASSESSING THE SITUATION WE FEEL THIS UNCLARITY OF MEANING COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD THE CTLR STATED, 'PROCEED ACROSS RWY 21 TO FOXTROT AND HOLD SHORT OF 21.'

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.