Medium large transport crew misses a turn and taxies to the wrong runway at bos.

Attributes
ACN	257987
Time
Date	199312
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bos
State Reference	MA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dca
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	257987
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
Airport	other physical facility

Narrative:

Initial taxi instruction was 'taxi outer, bravo, hold short at bravo hold point.' en route instructions changed to 'continue bravo, sierra I and hold short of runway 9.' almost 90 percent of runway and taxiway markers were covered by maintenance tarps. Remainder were inadequate to proceed with assurance. We missed sierra I and proceeded to the approach end of runway 4R. Controller advised us to hold our position. Subsequently, we were cleared into position on 4R and soon departed. No encroachment occurred. The taxi route to runway 9 via that route is quite confusing and without adequate markings, really dangerous. Recommend improved signage as soon as possible.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG CREW MISSES A TURN AND TAXIES TO THE WRONG RWY AT BOS.

Narrative: INITIAL TAXI INSTRUCTION WAS 'TAXI OUTER, BRAVO, HOLD SHORT AT BRAVO HOLD POINT.' ENRTE INSTRUCTIONS CHANGED TO 'CONTINUE BRAVO, SIERRA I AND HOLD SHORT OF RWY 9.' ALMOST 90 PERCENT OF RWY AND TXWY MARKERS WERE COVERED BY MAINT TARPS. REMAINDER WERE INADEQUATE TO PROCEED WITH ASSURANCE. WE MISSED SIERRA I AND PROCEEDED TO THE APCH END OF RWY 4R. CTLR ADVISED US TO HOLD OUR POS. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE WERE CLRED INTO POS ON 4R AND SOON DEPARTED. NO ENCROACHMENT OCCURRED. THE TAXI RTE TO RWY 9 VIA THAT RTE IS QUITE CONFUSING AND WITHOUT ADEQUATE MARKINGS, REALLY DANGEROUS. RECOMMEND IMPROVED SIGNAGE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

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.