Narrative:

After engine start at dtw we received taxi instructions to runway 3 center via oscar 4. Approaching oscar 4 we heard instructions to 'expedite', and further instructions were stepped on so that it was unclear to us as to what 'expedite' referred to. Approaching to cross runway 9-27 we could see 2 aircraft on runway 27 at the east end of airport. The closest aircraft on runway 27 at the east end of airport. The closest aircraft to our position was just starting to move. We tried to clarify our clearance, but were unable to get on frequency due to continuous talking. We had no choice but to hold short of 9/27 until clearance was verified. Eventually we received clearance to cross 9-27, which we did. After crossing 9-27 ground control asked us to call on phone upon arrival sfo. I asked ground control, 're: what?' we were informed that we had apparently not complied with taxi instructions to 'expedite.' contributing to my decision to hold at oscar 4 I will list some following facts: 1) there were at least 6 aircraft ahead of us waiting for takeoff on 3C. Any expedite on our part appeared senseless. 2) we thought the 'expedite' was for us, but since the takeoff aircraft was moving, maybe it was for him? 3) should the same situation occur tomorrow I would do exactly the same. 4) I called detroit collect from sfo and found that they don't accept collect calls. Not having $10 in change from a pay phone, I was unable to call.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF LGT TAXIING AT DTW WERE URGED BY TWR TO EXPEDITE, BUT TRANSMISSION WAS STEPPED ON. FLT SAW AN ACFT ON ROLL DEPARTING AND HELD FOR CLARIFICATION OF THEIR TAXI INSTRUCTIONS. GND CTL THEN ASKED THE FLT TO CALL ON PHONE TO JUSTIFY THEIR NOT 'EXPEDITING.' CAPT ATTEMPTED TO CALL AND DISCUSS THE SITUATION BUT WAS UNABLE.

Narrative: AFTER ENG START AT DTW WE RECEIVED TAXI INSTRUCTIONS TO RWY 3 CENTER VIA OSCAR 4. APCHING OSCAR 4 WE HEARD INSTRUCTIONS TO 'EXPEDITE', AND FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS WERE STEPPED ON SO THAT IT WAS UNCLEAR TO US AS TO WHAT 'EXPEDITE' REFERRED TO. APCHING TO CROSS RWY 9-27 WE COULD SEE 2 ACFT ON RWY 27 AT THE E END OF ARPT. THE CLOSEST ACFT ON RWY 27 AT THE E END OF ARPT. THE CLOSEST ACFT TO OUR POS WAS JUST STARTING TO MOVE. WE TRIED TO CLARIFY OUR CLRNC, BUT WERE UNABLE TO GET ON FREQ DUE TO CONTINUOUS TALKING. WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HOLD SHORT OF 9/27 UNTIL CLRNC WAS VERIFIED. EVENTUALLY WE RECEIVED CLRNC TO CROSS 9-27, WHICH WE DID. AFTER XING 9-27 GND CTL ASKED US TO CALL ON PHONE UPON ARR SFO. I ASKED GND CTL, 'RE: WHAT?' WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE HAD APPARENTLY NOT COMPLIED WITH TAXI INSTRUCTIONS TO 'EXPEDITE.' CONTRIBUTING TO MY DECISION TO HOLD AT OSCAR 4 I WILL LIST SOME FOLLOWING FACTS: 1) THERE WERE AT LEAST 6 ACFT AHEAD OF US WAITING FOR TKOF ON 3C. ANY EXPEDITE ON OUR PART APPEARED SENSELESS. 2) WE THOUGHT THE 'EXPEDITE' WAS FOR US, BUT SINCE THE TKOF ACFT WAS MOVING, MAYBE IT WAS FOR HIM? 3) SHOULD THE SAME SITUATION OCCUR TOMORROW I WOULD DO EXACTLY THE SAME. 4) I CALLED DETROIT COLLECT FROM SFO AND FOUND THAT THEY DON'T ACCEPT COLLECT CALLS. NOT HAVING $10 IN CHANGE FROM A PAY PHONE, I WAS UNABLE TO CALL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.