DC9 misses turn on taxiway and almost crosses an active runway.

Attributes
ACN	347110
Time
Date	199609
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtw
State Reference	MI
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	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
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 : 240 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	347110
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	347888
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

From spot X we were to taxi to runway 21C via taxiway F, V, M. Mentally, I was taxiing to runway 3C and continued sbound on taxiway F and crossed runway 9L/27R. At that time ground controller told us that we had just missed our turn and instructed us to turn left on taxiway U to join taxiway M and hold short of taxiway V for traffic to follow. I misunderstood big time our taxi clearance. It had been a long day with everything going well (and I was tired), I was complacent. I usually write down the taxi route and I did not do so today. Fortunately there was no runway 9L/27R traffic and it was a slow time. I will always write down taxi route in the future and make sure I understand it perfectly. Supplemental information from acn 347888: it is a good lesson learned in crew coordination to never assume the other crew member understood a clearance, and especially to never let cockpit duties or preparations distract one, even during light traffic periods. The first officer should always back up the captain on taxi rtes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9 MISSES TURN ON TXWY AND ALMOST CROSSES AN ACTIVE RWY.

Narrative: FROM SPOT X WE WERE TO TAXI TO RWY 21C VIA TXWY F, V, M. MENTALLY, I WAS TAXIING TO RWY 3C AND CONTINUED SBOUND ON TXWY F AND CROSSED RWY 9L/27R. AT THAT TIME GND CTLR TOLD US THAT WE HAD JUST MISSED OUR TURN AND INSTRUCTED US TO TURN L ON TXWY U TO JOIN TXWY M AND HOLD SHORT OF TXWY V FOR TFC TO FOLLOW. I MISUNDERSTOOD BIG TIME OUR TAXI CLRNC. IT HAD BEEN A LONG DAY WITH EVERYTHING GOING WELL (AND I WAS TIRED), I WAS COMPLACENT. I USUALLY WRITE DOWN THE TAXI RTE AND I DID NOT DO SO TODAY. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO RWY 9L/27R TFC AND IT WAS A SLOW TIME. I WILL ALWAYS WRITE DOWN TAXI RTE IN THE FUTURE AND MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND IT PERFECTLY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 347888: IT IS A GOOD LESSON LEARNED IN CREW COORD TO NEVER ASSUME THE OTHER CREW MEMBER UNDERSTOOD A CLRNC, AND ESPECIALLY TO NEVER LET COCKPIT DUTIES OR PREPARATIONS DISTRACT ONE, EVEN DURING LIGHT TFC PERIODS. THE FO SHOULD ALWAYS BACK UP THE CAPT ON TAXI RTES.

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.