Flight crew of E145 cross runway 31 hold short line at mdt without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	616946
Time
Date	200405
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mdt.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1700
ASRS Report	616946
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence : company policies non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While taxiing to runway 31 at mdt, we inadvertently crossed the hold short line for runway 31 prior to contacting tower for takeoff clearance. There were no other aircraft in the vicinity at the time and no hazard existed for our or any other aircraft. The major contributing factor was the very unusual distance (approximately 300 ft) of the hold short line from the end of the runway. In my 11 yrs of flying experience, that is the greatest hold short line-to-runway distance I have ever seen. Other factors include: 1) time of day (dusk) and angle of sun made seeing yellow hold line on taxiway difficult. 2) there was no red/white hold sign on right side of taxiway where it is easier for a first officer to see. To prevent these types of occurrences at this and similar locations where the hold short line is in an unusual place: 1) install red/white hold short signs on both sides of txwys for both crew members to see. 2) install flashing yellow lights near hold signs to draw more attention to them. 3) workload permitting, ground control could remind crews of the unusual position of the hold short line.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF E145 CROSS RWY 31 HOLD SHORT LINE AT MDT WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: WHILE TAXIING TO RWY 31 AT MDT, WE INADVERTENTLY CROSSED THE HOLD SHORT LINE FOR RWY 31 PRIOR TO CONTACTING TWR FOR TKOF CLRNC. THERE WERE NO OTHER ACFT IN THE VICINITY AT THE TIME AND NO HAZARD EXISTED FOR OUR OR ANY OTHER ACFT. THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE VERY UNUSUAL DISTANCE (APPROX 300 FT) OF THE HOLD SHORT LINE FROM THE END OF THE RWY. IN MY 11 YRS OF FLYING EXPERIENCE, THAT IS THE GREATEST HOLD SHORT LINE-TO-RWY DISTANCE I HAVE EVER SEEN. OTHER FACTORS INCLUDE: 1) TIME OF DAY (DUSK) AND ANGLE OF SUN MADE SEEING YELLOW HOLD LINE ON TXWY DIFFICULT. 2) THERE WAS NO RED/WHITE HOLD SIGN ON R SIDE OF TXWY WHERE IT IS EASIER FOR A FO TO SEE. TO PREVENT THESE TYPES OF OCCURRENCES AT THIS AND SIMILAR LOCATIONS WHERE THE HOLD SHORT LINE IS IN AN UNUSUAL PLACE: 1) INSTALL RED/WHITE HOLD SHORT SIGNS ON BOTH SIDES OF TXWYS FOR BOTH CREW MEMBERS TO SEE. 2) INSTALL FLASHING YELLOW LIGHTS NEAR HOLD SIGNS TO DRAW MORE ATTN TO THEM. 3) WORKLOAD PERMITTING, GND CTL COULD REMIND CREWS OF THE UNUSUAL POS OF THE HOLD SHORT LINE.

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.