Narrative:

We were cleared to taxi from gate B20 to runway 34R via taxiway Y; Y-2; C-1; D. The first officer read back the clearance to ground control and I acknowledged the read back while looking at the airfield diagram and visualizing that we would taxi east on Y then join Y-2 which extends straight ahead of Y; then make a slight right turn onto C-1 at the end of Y2. My mistake is that as I looked at the chart; I thought Y-2 was the east-west portion of the taxiway as it extended between two islands. In actuality; taxiway Y-2 is a short north-south taxiway connecting taxiway west to taxiway C-1 and the ramp. As we approached the intersection; the first officer did a good job and intervened by verbalizing that we were supposed to turn right. I was not mentally prepared for the turn and in the few seconds it took me to recognize my mistake; we missed the turn. Sacramento ground control noticed the mistake and re-cleared us to taxi via Y-1; west; D to runway 34R. To me; the airfield diagram is misleading. I would prefer to see taxiway Y-2 labeled vertically in the same direction as the taxiway orientation. The actual location of the letters on the current airfield diagram dated (date) led me to believe it runs east-west. For an example; see the lax airport diagram regarding many of their north-south taxiways like D-7; D-8; D-9; etc.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 Captain reported confusion referencing an airport diagram that resulted in deviation from a taxi clearance.

Narrative: We were cleared to taxi from Gate B20 to Runway 34R via Taxiway Y; Y-2; C-1; D. The First Officer read back the clearance to Ground Control and I acknowledged the read back while looking at the airfield diagram and visualizing that we would taxi east on Y then join Y-2 which extends straight ahead of Y; then make a slight right turn onto C-1 at the end of Y2. My mistake is that as I looked at the chart; I thought Y-2 was the east-west portion of the taxiway as it extended between two islands. In actuality; Taxiway Y-2 is a short north-south taxiway connecting taxiway W to taxiway C-1 and the ramp. As we approached the intersection; the First Officer did a good job and intervened by verbalizing that we were supposed to turn right. I was not mentally prepared for the turn and in the few seconds it took me to recognize my mistake; we missed the turn. Sacramento Ground Control noticed the mistake and re-cleared us to taxi via Y-1; W; D to Runway 34R. To me; the airfield diagram is misleading. I would prefer to see Taxiway Y-2 labeled vertically in the same direction as the taxiway orientation. The actual location of the letters on the current airfield diagram dated (date) led me to believe it runs east-west. For an example; see the LAX airport diagram regarding many of their north-south taxiways like D-7; D-8; D-9; etc.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.