An M20P pilot, taxiing for takeoff at sna, taxied past the hold short line.

Attributes
ACN	533928
Time
Date	200112
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sna.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 F Executive 21
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : sna.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna Aircraft Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : taxi ground : takeoff roll
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 335 flight time type : 210
ASRS Report	533928
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : ground
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe incursion : runway non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action none taken : detected after the fact
Miss Distance	horizontal : 75
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I completed my run-up and asked for my IFR clearance. I got a completely different clearance than I had planned and fumbled in the cockpit setting up for the new information. I called ground ready to taxi to active. Ground says 'follow the cessna.' I blindly follow the cessna and realize too late that I am on top of the hold short line and the cessna is on the runway. I stopped with my wings on the hold line. The cessna departs and then I am cleared to depart. Ground never gave me a clearance limit, just 'follow the cessna.' I fell into the trap. I need to maintain situational awareness even with the ATC commands.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN M20P PLT, TAXIING FOR TKOF AT SNA, TAXIED PAST THE HOLD SHORT LINE.

Narrative: I COMPLETED MY RUN-UP AND ASKED FOR MY IFR CLRNC. I GOT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CLRNC THAN I HAD PLANNED AND FUMBLED IN THE COCKPIT SETTING UP FOR THE NEW INFO. I CALLED GND READY TO TAXI TO ACTIVE. GND SAYS 'FOLLOW THE CESSNA.' I BLINDLY FOLLOW THE CESSNA AND REALIZE TOO LATE THAT I AM ON TOP OF THE HOLD SHORT LINE AND THE CESSNA IS ON THE RWY. I STOPPED WITH MY WINGS ON THE HOLD LINE. THE CESSNA DEPARTS AND THEN I AM CLRED TO DEPART. GND NEVER GAVE ME A CLRNC LIMIT, JUST 'FOLLOW THE CESSNA.' I FELL INTO THE TRAP. I NEED TO MAINTAIN SITUATIONAL AWARENESS EVEN WITH THE ATC COMMANDS.

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.