Runway incursion on taxi.

Attributes
ACN	258807
Time
Date	199312
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 639 msl bound upper : 639
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
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 : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	258807
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

From gate circle, I was cleared to runway 21L via inner, oscar 4, victor and whiskey. I knew where the inner was and the approximately location of oscar 4 so I began taxiing. My copilot had the airport plate in his hand to assist me. At oscar 4 I saw victor but I thought it was the parallel to runway 21C so I turned left and began looking for whiskey. At papa I realized that I might have missed or misinterpreted the signs. I stopped and asked ground control for help. At that time the copilot, who was rechking the page, after reading checklist, idented my error. Being aware of the detroit tragedies, I was conscientious and alert. My error could possibly be the result of sign placement. If I am not sure of the entire taxi route, I shall review the airport plate personally. I am disappointed in ground control, who I respect for assistance and control -- did not call me on my error. Although I had the whole airport all to myself, I must wait another 6 months to a yr before I get an opportunity to see the same clearance in order to personally identify my mistake and decide why I was confused.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RWY INCURSION ON TAXI.

Narrative: FROM GATE CIRCLE, I WAS CLRED TO RWY 21L VIA INNER, OSCAR 4, VICTOR AND WHISKEY. I KNEW WHERE THE INNER WAS AND THE APPROX LOCATION OF OSCAR 4 SO I BEGAN TAXIING. MY COPLT HAD THE ARPT PLATE IN HIS HAND TO ASSIST ME. AT OSCAR 4 I SAW VICTOR BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE PARALLEL TO RWY 21C SO I TURNED L AND BEGAN LOOKING FOR WHISKEY. AT PAPA I REALIZED THAT I MIGHT HAVE MISSED OR MISINTERPRETED THE SIGNS. I STOPPED AND ASKED GND CTL FOR HELP. AT THAT TIME THE COPLT, WHO WAS RECHKING THE PAGE, AFTER READING CHKLIST, IDENTED MY ERROR. BEING AWARE OF THE DETROIT TRAGEDIES, I WAS CONSCIENTIOUS AND ALERT. MY ERROR COULD POSSIBLY BE THE RESULT OF SIGN PLACEMENT. IF I AM NOT SURE OF THE ENTIRE TAXI RTE, I SHALL REVIEW THE ARPT PLATE PERSONALLY. I AM DISAPPOINTED IN GND CTL, WHO I RESPECT FOR ASSISTANCE AND CTL -- DID NOT CALL ME ON MY ERROR. ALTHOUGH I HAD THE WHOLE ARPT ALL TO MYSELF, I MUST WAIT ANOTHER 6 MONTHS TO A YR BEFORE I GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE SAME CLRNC IN ORDER TO PERSONALLY IDENT MY MISTAKE AND DECIDE WHY I WAS CONFUSED.

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.