A private pilot in a C172 at ful entered the active runway without proper ATC clearance.

Attributes
ACN	446975
Time
Date	199908
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ful.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ful.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time total : 70
ASRS Report	446975
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local controller : ground
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was cleared by fullerton ground to taxi to runway 24 from GA. I crossed taxiway and turned right (east) on active runway 24. I discovered this immediately and exited. Problem was caused by 3 factors: 1) my lack of familiarity with airport. 2) very bright diffuse sunlight from west. 3) faded paint markings at edge of runway. I suggest moving runway sign from west of GA taxiway/runway access to east. Sign was invisible due to sunlight conditions. I also suggest renewing taxiway paint. Note: tower informed me that a commercial flight had same error 10 mins later.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PVT PLT IN A C172 AT FUL ENTERED THE ACTIVE RWY WITHOUT PROPER ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS CLRED BY FULLERTON GND TO TAXI TO RWY 24 FROM GA. I CROSSED TXWY AND TURNED R (E) ON ACTIVE RWY 24. I DISCOVERED THIS IMMEDIATELY AND EXITED. PROB WAS CAUSED BY 3 FACTORS: 1) MY LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH ARPT. 2) VERY BRIGHT DIFFUSE SUNLIGHT FROM W. 3) FADED PAINT MARKINGS AT EDGE OF RWY. I SUGGEST MOVING RWY SIGN FROM W OF GA TXWY/RWY ACCESS TO E. SIGN WAS INVISIBLE DUE TO SUNLIGHT CONDITIONS. I ALSO SUGGEST RENEWING TXWY PAINT. NOTE: TWR INFORMED ME THAT A COMMERCIAL FLT HAD SAME ERROR 10 MINS LATER.

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.