A pilot exiting a cargo ramp entered runway xx inadvertently because he did not see the runway hold ...

Attributes
ACN	773565
Time
Date	200802
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Snow
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Caravan II F406
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 1400 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	773565
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor Airport Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While taxi out of north cargo ramp; taxied onto runway xx. After mistake had been noticed; cleared runway before ATC noticed. The taxiway out of north cargo had not been plowed (taxiway a); there was no hold short line (visible); no hold short lights; and no runway sign! Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated that at the time of this event there was about an inch of snow on the runway and possibly 4-6 inches on the taxiway sides. Visibility was approximately 1 mile in snow. The reporter stated that as he entered what he thought was taxiway a he saw a regional jet entering the taxiway directly opposite him. He realized at that point that something was not right and after looking to his right recognized that he was probably entering the runway. He made a left turn onto runway xx and proceeded to the end where he exited. The regional jet asked tower about his aircraft and after the reporter identified himself tower asked how he got onto the runway. He was then told that a pilot deviation with a runway incursion report was being filed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PILOT EXITING A CARGO RAMP ENTERED RWY XX INADVERTENTLY BECAUSE HE DID NOT SEE THE RWY HOLD SHORT SIGN IN SNOW AND LOW VISIBILITY.

Narrative: WHILE TAXI OUT OF N CARGO RAMP; TAXIED ONTO RWY XX. AFTER MISTAKE HAD BEEN NOTICED; CLRED RWY BEFORE ATC NOTICED. THE TXWY OUT OF N CARGO HAD NOT BEEN PLOWED (TXWY A); THERE WAS NO HOLD SHORT LINE (VISIBLE); NO HOLD SHORT LIGHTS; AND NO RWY SIGN! CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE REPORTER STATED THAT AT THE TIME OF THIS EVENT THERE WAS ABOUT AN INCH OF SNOW ON THE RWY AND POSSIBLY 4-6 INCHES ON THE TXWY SIDES. VISIBILITY WAS APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE IN SNOW. THE REPORTER STATED THAT AS HE ENTERED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS TXWY A HE SAW A REGIONAL JET ENTERING THE TXWY DIRECTLY OPPOSITE HIM. HE REALIZED AT THAT POINT THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT AND AFTER LOOKING TO HIS RIGHT RECOGNIZED THAT HE WAS PROBABLY ENTERING THE RWY. HE MADE A LEFT TURN ONTO RWY XX AND PROCEEDED TO THE END WHERE HE EXITED. THE REGIONAL JET ASKED TOWER ABOUT HIS ACFT AND AFTER THE REPORTER IDENTIFIED HIMSELF TOWER ASKED HOW HE GOT ONTO THE RWY. HE WAS THEN TOLD THAT A PILOT DEVIATION WITH A RWY INCURSION REPORT WAS BEING FILED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.

A pilot exiting a cargo ramp entered runway xx inadvertently because he did not see the runway hold short sign in snow and low visibility.