An atx PA31 taxies across the hold short line for runway 4L at bos during a night operation.

Attributes
ACN	430940
Time
Date	199903
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bos.airport
State Reference	MA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	PA-31P Navajo P
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Flight Phase	ground : taxi ground : holding
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	430940
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : ground
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After receiving my IFR clearance from bos to roc, I called bos ground control for taxi instructions. After some confusion over if I contacted clearance delivery first (which I did), I was instructed to taxi to hold point B. I asked for direction to hold point B but received none. I was able to find the hold point using an airport chart, even though a jet airliner was blocking the sign from view when exiting the GA ramp. I was then instructed to taxi to runway 4L. I started to turn the airplane right to see if I could see a direction sign to runway 4L. The ground controller told me that I was about to go the wrong way and told me to taxi to taxiway west to runway 4L. During and after the turn onto taxiway west, I was very concerned about finding the hold line and/or the runway sign. I saw neither and was just about to enter onto runway 4L when I realized that I taxied too far. I immediately called the tower and told them what happened, and asked if I could do a 180 degree turn to go back. They instructed me to cross the runway and to hold on the other side, which I did.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ATX PA31 TAXIES ACROSS THE HOLD SHORT LINE FOR RWY 4L AT BOS DURING A NIGHT OP.

Narrative: AFTER RECEIVING MY IFR CLRNC FROM BOS TO ROC, I CALLED BOS GND CTL FOR TAXI INSTRUCTIONS. AFTER SOME CONFUSION OVER IF I CONTACTED CLRNC DELIVERY FIRST (WHICH I DID), I WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAXI TO HOLD POINT B. I ASKED FOR DIRECTION TO HOLD POINT B BUT RECEIVED NONE. I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE HOLD POINT USING AN ARPT CHART, EVEN THOUGH A JET AIRLINER WAS BLOCKING THE SIGN FROM VIEW WHEN EXITING THE GA RAMP. I WAS THEN INSTRUCTED TO TAXI TO RWY 4L. I STARTED TO TURN THE AIRPLANE R TO SEE IF I COULD SEE A DIRECTION SIGN TO RWY 4L. THE GND CTLR TOLD ME THAT I WAS ABOUT TO GO THE WRONG WAY AND TOLD ME TO TAXI TO TXWY W TO RWY 4L. DURING AND AFTER THE TURN ONTO TXWY W, I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT FINDING THE HOLD LINE AND/OR THE RWY SIGN. I SAW NEITHER AND WAS JUST ABOUT TO ENTER ONTO RWY 4L WHEN I REALIZED THAT I TAXIED TOO FAR. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE TWR AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED, AND ASKED IF I COULD DO A 180 DEG TURN TO GO BACK. THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO CROSS THE RWY AND TO HOLD ON THE OTHER SIDE, WHICH I DID.

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.