Narrative:

From the terminal we were given a taxi clearance of 'taxi to runway 30 via zulu.' we got down to the intersection of taxiway Z and taxiway Y11. I saw a zulu sign that momentarily seem to indicate to me to turn right. I asked my co-pilot if we make a right turn here and he said yes. I started the right turn and then immediately knew that I should've continued straight. Rather than make a very sharp turn back to the left, I asked to be recleared to the runway by making two right turns to get back on zulu. The ground controller recleared us. There were no other aircraft close to us and there was not even a remote chance of having any kind of incident. After a week of thought on my part I thought it best to fill out this form in case that intersection might produce the same momentary disorientation for other pilots.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9-30 CREW HAD CONFUSING TXWY SIGNAGE AT IAD.

Narrative: FROM THE TERMINAL WE WERE GIVEN A TAXI CLRNC OF 'TAXI TO RWY 30 VIA ZULU.' WE GOT DOWN TO THE INTXN OF TXWY Z AND TXWY Y11. I SAW A ZULU SIGN THAT MOMENTARILY SEEM TO INDICATE TO ME TO TURN R. I ASKED MY CO-PLT IF WE MAKE A R TURN HERE AND HE SAID YES. I STARTED THE R TURN AND THEN IMMEDIATELY KNEW THAT I SHOULD'VE CONTINUED STRAIGHT. RATHER THAN MAKE A VERY SHARP TURN BACK TO THE L, I ASKED TO BE RECLEARED TO THE RWY BY MAKING TWO R TURNS TO GET BACK ON ZULU. THE GND CTLR RECLEARED US. THERE WERE NO OTHER ACFT CLOSE TO US AND THERE WAS NOT EVEN A REMOTE CHANCE OF HAVING ANY KIND OF INCIDENT. AFTER A WEEK OF THOUGHT ON MY PART I THOUGHT IT BEST TO FILL OUT THIS FORM IN CASE THAT INTXN MIGHT PRODUCE THE SAME MOMENTARY DISORIENTATION FOR OTHER PLTS.

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.