An small aircraft pilot got lost taxiing at a very large, out of town airport.

Attributes
ACN	238527
Time
Date	199304
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable 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 : 50 flight time total : 3000
ASRS Report	238527
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : ground
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I should not have taxied without fully understanding instructions and advised that I needed help. I was issued a clearance for departure from clearance delivery. I then tuned my radio to ground control and was told to taxi to delta for a departure on runway 16R. I was unfamiliar with the airport and should have advised the controller. I began my taxi and followed another airplane northeast for a short time. I was not sure if I was on the proper taxiway. I assumed that the controller would advise me immediately if I was not following her instructions. After I continued for approximately 1/4 mi, I became more confused and unsure if I was even on the taxiway or possibly on the runway so at the next intersection I turned left onto an intersection and stopped, to get assistance from the tower before I proceeded. I was told that I had not followed her instructions and to do a 180 degree turn and proceed down the taxiway to the northeast for a departure on runway 16L. When I made my runup and advised tower I was ready for takeoff they told me to return to parking and give then a call by phone to the tower. I complied and was told to go to the FBO and study a taxiway chart and they would hold my clearance for me. I did this after which I was cleared for taxiway to runway 16L. No further problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT GOT LOST TAXIING AT A VERY LARGE, OUT OF TOWN ARPT.

Narrative: I SHOULD NOT HAVE TAXIED WITHOUT FULLY UNDERSTANDING INSTRUCTIONS AND ADVISED THAT I NEEDED HELP. I WAS ISSUED A CLRNC FOR DEP FROM CLRNC DELIVERY. I THEN TUNED MY RADIO TO GND CTL AND WAS TOLD TO TAXI TO DELTA FOR A DEP ON RWY 16R. I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT AND SHOULD HAVE ADVISED THE CTLR. I BEGAN MY TAXI AND FOLLOWED ANOTHER AIRPLANE NE FOR A SHORT TIME. I WAS NOT SURE IF I WAS ON THE PROPER TXWY. I ASSUMED THAT THE CTLR WOULD ADVISE ME IMMEDIATELY IF I WAS NOT FOLLOWING HER INSTRUCTIONS. AFTER I CONTINUED FOR APPROX 1/4 MI, I BECAME MORE CONFUSED AND UNSURE IF I WAS EVEN ON THE TXWY OR POSSIBLY ON THE RWY SO AT THE NEXT INTXN I TURNED L ONTO AN INTXN AND STOPPED, TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM THE TWR BEFORE I PROCEEDED. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD NOT FOLLOWED HER INSTRUCTIONS AND TO DO A 180 DEG TURN AND PROCEED DOWN THE TXWY TO THE NE FOR A DEP ON RWY 16L. WHEN I MADE MY RUNUP AND ADVISED TWR I WAS READY FOR TKOF THEY TOLD ME TO RETURN TO PARKING AND GIVE THEN A CALL BY PHONE TO THE TWR. I COMPLIED AND WAS TOLD TO GO TO THE FBO AND STUDY A TXWY CHART AND THEY WOULD HOLD MY CLRNC FOR ME. I DID THIS AFTER WHICH I WAS CLRED FOR TXWY TO RWY 16L. NO FURTHER PROBS.

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.