Private pilot maintaining night currency taxies beyond hold line onto runway.

Attributes
ACN	186243
Time
Date	199108
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mcn
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ilm
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	ground : holding ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 150 flight time type : 70
ASRS Report	186243
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe incursion : runway non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While acting as PIC on a night flight to insure night flying currency, I inadvertently crossed a hold line onto the active runway at mcn. During preflight I noticed that the aircraft landing light was inoperative, but considered this to be of minor significance, as all other (navigation, beacon, strobes) position lights were operative. Mcn ground cleared me to taxi to runway 23 and hold. While taxi was in progress, I was aware of some difficulty seeing taxiway centerline markings sans landing light. I was looking for the hold line and attending cockpit duties during taxi. I obviously missed seeing the hold line causing the runway incursion. After this I realized what had occurred and immediately turned 180 degree and left the runway, however aircraft on final approach to the runway was given a go around from mcn tower. I learned several things from this experience. Ensure landing lights are operative prior to taxi and use them. Attend to cockpit management while stopped, not during taxi. Fly at night more often to ensure familiarity with night flying environment and night vision requirements. As for other factors, I feel that perhaps all painted markings on mcn airport should be inspected and possibly repainted as they appear faded with age and may present a hazard to night operations. Also more lighted aids, (signs) may help.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT MAINTAINING NIGHT CURRENCY TAXIES BEYOND HOLD LINE ONTO RWY.

Narrative: WHILE ACTING AS PIC ON A NIGHT FLT TO INSURE NIGHT FLYING CURRENCY, I INADVERTENTLY CROSSED A HOLD LINE ONTO THE ACTIVE RWY AT MCN. DURING PREFLT I NOTICED THAT THE ACFT LNDG LIGHT WAS INOP, BUT CONSIDERED THIS TO BE OF MINOR SIGNIFICANCE, AS ALL OTHER (NAV, BEACON, STROBES) POS LIGHTS WERE OPERATIVE. MCN GND CLRED ME TO TAXI TO RWY 23 AND HOLD. WHILE TAXI WAS IN PROGRESS, I WAS AWARE OF SOME DIFFICULTY SEEING TAXIWAY CTRLINE MARKINGS SANS LNDG LIGHT. I WAS LOOKING FOR THE HOLD LINE AND ATTENDING COCKPIT DUTIES DURING TAXI. I OBVIOUSLY MISSED SEEING THE HOLD LINE CAUSING THE RWY INCURSION. AFTER THIS I REALIZED WHAT HAD OCCURRED AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED 180 DEG AND L THE RWY, HOWEVER ACFT ON FINAL APCH TO THE RWY WAS GIVEN A GAR FROM MCN TWR. I LEARNED SEVERAL THINGS FROM THIS EXPERIENCE. ENSURE LNDG LIGHTS ARE OPERATIVE PRIOR TO TAXI AND USE THEM. ATTEND TO COCKPIT MGMNT WHILE STOPPED, NOT DURING TAXI. FLY AT NIGHT MORE OFTEN TO ENSURE FAMILIARITY WITH NIGHT FLYING ENVIRONMENT AND NIGHT VISION REQUIREMENTS. AS FOR OTHER FACTORS, I FEEL THAT PERHAPS ALL PAINTED MARKINGS ON MCN ARPT SHOULD BE INSPECTED AND POSSIBLY REPAINTED AS THEY APPEAR FADED WITH AGE AND MAY PRESENT A HAZARD TO NIGHT OPS. ALSO MORE LIGHTED AIDS, (SIGNS) MAY HELP.

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.