<< >> NASA ASRS Report 617826, May 2004

Wrong direction of turn places a taxiing B737-300 in the proximity of an active runway which caused some concern to the ground controller at mdw, il.

Attributes
ACN	617826
Time
Date	200405
Day	Thu
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mdw.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : mdw.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
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 : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	617826
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe incursion : taxiway non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to original clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

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.

Related reports:

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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.