Narrative:

Aircraft was pushed back from gate at mlu on to taxiway G approximately 30 yards from the intersection of taxiway C. Ground control cleared us to taxi to runway 22 on taxiway C, hold short of runway 18. We acknowledge the clearance. As we turned onto taxiway C I noticed the red signage ahead that I thought designates runway 18. It was observed by the window post during the turn and I did not notice that it was for runway 14/32. At no time did I recognize any standard signage for runway 18 nor did I detect a hold line. (Taxiway markings are faint and difficult to see at mlu). The ground controller issue a 'stop' command to us as we taxied on taxiway C. The aircraft was brought to a stop as quickly as possible. The first officer and I didn't understand the reason for his transmission, believing runway 18 to be up ahead. Quickly checking our position we realize we were about to cross the runway 18. Contributing factors: taxiway markings, worn and faint possibly obscuring the hold short position. The short distance of taxiway C from taxiway G to runway 18. At most air carrier airports our habitual routine is to position the aircraft on a taxiway on which it fits, nose to tail. I kept fighting all day trying to rid the notion of being at baton rouge where the hold short position is the same as runway 14/32. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter rarely flies into this airport. He mentally associates this field with another and at times, finds it confusing. He found the runway signage good on a subsequent visit to the field. He feels the hold line could be more definite. It appeared faint and faded to him in his recollection.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 HAS A RWY INCURSION AT MONROE, LA.

Narrative: ACFT WAS PUSHED BACK FROM GATE AT MLU ON TO TXWY G APPROX 30 YARDS FROM THE INTXN OF TXWY C. GND CTL CLRED US TO TAXI TO RWY 22 ON TXWY C, HOLD SHORT OF RWY 18. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE CLRNC. AS WE TURNED ONTO TXWY C I NOTICED THE RED SIGNAGE AHEAD THAT I THOUGHT DESIGNATES RWY 18. IT WAS OBSERVED BY THE WINDOW POST DURING THE TURN AND I DID NOT NOTICE THAT IT WAS FOR RWY 14/32. AT NO TIME DID I RECOGNIZE ANY STANDARD SIGNAGE FOR RWY 18 NOR DID I DETECT A HOLD LINE. (TXWY MARKINGS ARE FAINT AND DIFFICULT TO SEE AT MLU). THE GND CTLR ISSUE A 'STOP' COMMAND TO US AS WE TAXIED ON TXWY C. THE ACFT WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THE FO AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE REASON FOR HIS XMISSION, BELIEVING RWY 18 TO BE UP AHEAD. QUICKLY CHKING OUR POS WE REALIZE WE WERE ABOUT TO CROSS THE RWY 18. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: TXWY MARKINGS, WORN AND FAINT POSSIBLY OBSCURING THE HOLD SHORT POS. THE SHORT DISTANCE OF TXWY C FROM TXWY G TO RWY 18. AT MOST ACR ARPTS OUR HABITUAL ROUTINE IS TO POS THE ACFT ON A TXWY ON WHICH IT FITS, NOSE TO TAIL. I KEPT FIGHTING ALL DAY TRYING TO RID THE NOTION OF BEING AT BATON ROUGE WHERE THE HOLD SHORT POS IS THE SAME AS RWY 14/32. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR RARELY FLIES INTO THIS ARPT. HE MENTALLY ASSOCIATES THIS FIELD WITH ANOTHER AND AT TIMES, FINDS IT CONFUSING. HE FOUND THE RWY SIGNAGE GOOD ON A SUBSEQUENT VISIT TO THE FIELD. HE FEELS THE HOLD LINE COULD BE MORE DEFINITE. IT APPEARED FAINT AND FADED TO HIM IN HIS RECOLLECTION.

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.