Airport signage problem. Air carrier X at wrong taxiway could lead to runway incursion.

Attributes
ACN	264078
Time
Date	199402
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pit
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
ASRS Report	264078
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other

Narrative:

Air carrier X (B727) was taxiing to runway 27L via taxiway M. Normally, aircraft turn right at taxiway M7 to access the full length of runway 27L. It didn't 'look right' when he said he was ready. I asked him if he was at taxiway M7 or taxiway S5 (which is a 4R high speed that crosses runway 9R/27L overrun). He said taxiway M7 initially, then upon further examination he confirmed my initial suspicion that he was in fact on taxiway S5. This is the second time in 3 days I have had a pilot turn at taxiway S5 when he should have been at taxiway M7. Taxiway S5 is currently a runway incursion waiting to happen.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARPT SIGNAGE PROB. ACR X AT WRONG TXWY COULD LEAD TO RWY INCURSION.

Narrative: ACR X (B727) WAS TAXIING TO RWY 27L VIA TXWY M. NORMALLY, ACFT TURN R AT TXWY M7 TO ACCESS THE FULL LENGTH OF RWY 27L. IT DIDN'T 'LOOK RIGHT' WHEN HE SAID HE WAS READY. I ASKED HIM IF HE WAS AT TXWY M7 OR TXWY S5 (WHICH IS A 4R HIGH SPD THAT CROSSES RWY 9R/27L OVERRUN). HE SAID TXWY M7 INITIALLY, THEN UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION HE CONFIRMED MY INITIAL SUSPICION THAT HE WAS IN FACT ON TXWY S5. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 3 DAYS I HAVE HAD A PLT TURN AT TXWY S5 WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT TXWY M7. TXWY S5 IS CURRENTLY A RWY INCURSION WAITING TO HAPPEN.

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.