A B737-300 flight crew taxied onto the active runway without clearance at dtw.

Attributes
ACN	447930
Time
Date	199908
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtw.airport
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 175 flight time total : 9100 flight time type : 550
ASRS Report	447930
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was with a new captain on his first trip after IOE. At dtw, taxiing from the ramp to the txwys is very confusing -- especially at night. There are numerous txwys in close proximity to each other that are poorly lit, with airport construction adding to the confusion. We were instructed to taxi to runway 3C via taxiway F and taxiway M. After assisting the captain with finding taxiway F, I returned my attention to inside the cockpit to run checklists, call company, etc. When I looked out, I expected to see taxiway M, instead I saw us taxiing onto runway 3C. I stated that we were on runway 3C, and looked quickly on final and luckily, saw no traffic. The captain said we never saw taxiway M. Ground then called back with new instructions. After takeoff, detroit tower said not to worry, that no action would be taken.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 FLC TAXIED ONTO THE ACTIVE RWY WITHOUT CLRNC AT DTW.

Narrative: I WAS WITH A NEW CAPT ON HIS FIRST TRIP AFTER IOE. AT DTW, TAXIING FROM THE RAMP TO THE TXWYS IS VERY CONFUSING -- ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS TXWYS IN CLOSE PROX TO EACH OTHER THAT ARE POORLY LIT, WITH ARPT CONSTRUCTION ADDING TO THE CONFUSION. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO TAXI TO RWY 3C VIA TXWY F AND TXWY M. AFTER ASSISTING THE CAPT WITH FINDING TXWY F, I RETURNED MY ATTN TO INSIDE THE COCKPIT TO RUN CHKLISTS, CALL COMPANY, ETC. WHEN I LOOKED OUT, I EXPECTED TO SEE TXWY M, INSTEAD I SAW US TAXIING ONTO RWY 3C. I STATED THAT WE WERE ON RWY 3C, AND LOOKED QUICKLY ON FINAL AND LUCKILY, SAW NO TFC. THE CAPT SAID WE NEVER SAW TXWY M. GND THEN CALLED BACK WITH NEW INSTRUCTIONS. AFTER TKOF, DETROIT TWR SAID NOT TO WORRY, THAT NO ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN.

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.