Air carrier makes taxi error at tul, taxiway lights may not have been fully operational.

Attributes
ACN	267286
Time
Date	199403
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tul
State Reference	OK
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
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 : 8000 flight time type : 4500
ASRS Report	267286
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 2750 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	266497
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

It was beginning to get dark taxiing out for departure. We were given clearance to taxi to runway 18L. When exiting the ramp area I turned onto taxiway H instead of J. After crossing runway 8/26 I was following taxiway centerline lights but could not see any taxiway edge lights. I don't believe they were on. I was also looking for runway edge lights or signs identing runway 18L. I did not see any. In addition sloping terrain in this area made it difficult to see very far down the taxiway. In this area taxiway H actually crosses runway 18L while taxiway J turns to parallel runway 18L. At this time I realized the taxiway would lead me onto the runway, which was not my intention. I immediately applied brakes to avoid entering runway 18L. It was dusk and very difficult to see. The tower also did not give any communication regarding use of a different taxi route. Additional lighted taxiway and runway information would have been very helpful. I do not believe taxiway H had 3 red lights across the centerline lighting to identify entering a runway. This could possibly prevent someone from inadvertently entering a runway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MAKES TAXI ERROR AT TUL, TXWY LIGHTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FULLY OPERATIONAL.

Narrative: IT WAS BEGINNING TO GET DARK TAXIING OUT FOR DEP. WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO TAXI TO RWY 18L. WHEN EXITING THE RAMP AREA I TURNED ONTO TXWY H INSTEAD OF J. AFTER XING RWY 8/26 I WAS FOLLOWING TXWY CTRLINE LIGHTS BUT COULD NOT SEE ANY TXWY EDGE LIGHTS. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY WERE ON. I WAS ALSO LOOKING FOR RWY EDGE LIGHTS OR SIGNS IDENTING RWY 18L. I DID NOT SEE ANY. IN ADDITION SLOPING TERRAIN IN THIS AREA MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE VERY FAR DOWN THE TXWY. IN THIS AREA TXWY H ACTUALLY CROSSES RWY 18L WHILE TXWY J TURNS TO PARALLEL RWY 18L. AT THIS TIME I REALIZED THE TXWY WOULD LEAD ME ONTO THE RWY, WHICH WAS NOT MY INTENTION. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED BRAKES TO AVOID ENTERING RWY 18L. IT WAS DUSK AND VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. THE TWR ALSO DID NOT GIVE ANY COM REGARDING USE OF A DIFFERENT TAXI RTE. ADDITIONAL LIGHTED TXWY AND RWY INFO WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL. I DO NOT BELIEVE TXWY H HAD 3 RED LIGHTS ACROSS THE CTRLINE LIGHTING TO IDENT ENTERING A RWY. THIS COULD POSSIBLY PREVENT SOMEONE FROM INADVERTENTLY ENTERING A RWY.

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.