Narrative:

We pushed back from gate and received clearance to taxi as follows: 'yankee, papa to backtrack runway 31R to runway 31C.' it took me 2 xmissions to clarify the clearance at a busy time. Taxiway Y was blocked by another company aircraft. Upon reaching taxiway P, we made a right turn instead of left. As we realized our mistake and began a 180 degree turn, ground control said, 'company, where are you going?' runway 22L was an active runway at the time, but we never entered it, although I understand the controller's concern. Following our left turn, we proceeded to runway 31R. The remainder of the flight was uneventful. In the future, I will make sure both the captain and I agree on the taxi instructions to avoid such an accident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WRONG DIRECTION OF TURN PLACES A TAXIING B737-300 IN THE PROX OF AN ACTIVE RWY WHICH CAUSED SOME CONCERN TO THE GND CTLR AT MDW, IL.

Narrative: WE PUSHED BACK FROM GATE AND RECEIVED CLRNC TO TAXI AS FOLLOWS: 'YANKEE, PAPA TO BACKTRACK RWY 31R TO RWY 31C.' IT TOOK ME 2 XMISSIONS TO CLARIFY THE CLRNC AT A BUSY TIME. TXWY Y WAS BLOCKED BY ANOTHER COMPANY ACFT. UPON REACHING TXWY P, WE MADE A R TURN INSTEAD OF L. AS WE REALIZED OUR MISTAKE AND BEGAN A 180 DEG TURN, GND CTL SAID, 'COMPANY, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?' RWY 22L WAS AN ACTIVE RWY AT THE TIME, BUT WE NEVER ENTERED IT, ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND THE CTLR'S CONCERN. FOLLOWING OUR L TURN, WE PROCEEDED TO RWY 31R. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL MAKE SURE BOTH THE CAPT AND I AGREE ON THE TAXI INSTRUCTIONS TO AVOID SUCH AN ACCIDENT.

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.