Narrative:

Cleared to land long on runway 28R. Controller called during rollout for a right turn at taxiway east 'if able,' if unable continue to taxiway D. As PF was starting a right turn onto taxiway D, the controller said 'I need you to make a left turn,' so I thumbed a left turn at the PF. She started a left turn, then center controller continued 'onto taxiway C.' at this point we were starting into the entryway between runway 28R&left on taxiway D. The controller then sent a turboprop commuter he had previously described as following us around. After being cleared to cross runway 28R on taxiway D and via taxiway C to the gate, I explained that the call for a left turn, spoken in an urgent voice while we were still on the runway confused us. The controller said 'no problem, just continue to the ramp.' the PF said she had understood the controller's intention, despite the way the instruction was given, but did not want to argue while we were rolling. I am well familiar with sfo taxiway layout, but the urgent voice and left turn command led me to obey in a way which I could train my dog to act. Supplemental information from acn 473260: after touchdown on runway 28R started to turn off at taxiway D. The tower directed 'make a left turn,' which made the captain gesture to the left. I started a left turn as the controller ended '...onto taxiway C.' I knew this was coming, but the captain went with what we heard. We wound up left of runway on taxiway D. That was a badly timed call.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT GOES AROUND AT SFO, CA, WHEN THE PRECEDING ACFT TURNS THE WRONG DIRECTION OFF THE LNDG RWY.

Narrative: CLRED TO LAND LONG ON RWY 28R. CTLR CALLED DURING ROLLOUT FOR A R TURN AT TXWY E 'IF ABLE,' IF UNABLE CONTINUE TO TXWY D. AS PF WAS STARTING A R TURN ONTO TXWY D, THE CTLR SAID 'I NEED YOU TO MAKE A L TURN,' SO I THUMBED A L TURN AT THE PF. SHE STARTED A L TURN, THEN CTR CTLR CONTINUED 'ONTO TXWY C.' AT THIS POINT WE WERE STARTING INTO THE ENTRYWAY BTWN RWY 28R&L ON TXWY D. THE CTLR THEN SENT A TURBOPROP COMMUTER HE HAD PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWING US AROUND. AFTER BEING CLRED TO CROSS RWY 28R ON TXWY D AND VIA TXWY C TO THE GATE, I EXPLAINED THAT THE CALL FOR A L TURN, SPOKEN IN AN URGENT VOICE WHILE WE WERE STILL ON THE RWY CONFUSED US. THE CTLR SAID 'NO PROB, JUST CONTINUE TO THE RAMP.' THE PF SAID SHE HAD UNDERSTOOD THE CTLR'S INTENTION, DESPITE THE WAY THE INSTRUCTION WAS GIVEN, BUT DID NOT WANT TO ARGUE WHILE WE WERE ROLLING. I AM WELL FAMILIAR WITH SFO TXWY LAYOUT, BUT THE URGENT VOICE AND L TURN COMMAND LED ME TO OBEY IN A WAY WHICH I COULD TRAIN MY DOG TO ACT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 473260: AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON RWY 28R STARTED TO TURN OFF AT TXWY D. THE TWR DIRECTED 'MAKE A L TURN,' WHICH MADE THE CAPT GESTURE TO THE L. I STARTED A L TURN AS THE CTLR ENDED '...ONTO TXWY C.' I KNEW THIS WAS COMING, BUT THE CAPT WENT WITH WHAT WE HEARD. WE WOUND UP L OF RWY ON TXWY D. THAT WAS A BADLY TIMED CALL.

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.