An instructor reported the student pilot taxied onto fdk runway 30 at taxiway a because he missed th...

Narrative:

I was taking a student on his first cross country night flight toward his private pilot license. With over 35 hours of flight time at this airport; I entrusted the student to taxi to the runway. The aircraft was equipped with a G1000 system which was still adjusted to 'day' brightness. After monitoring the initial completion of the taxi sequence; I proceeded to attempt to adjust the brightness to night mode. Not being very familiar with the system; I spent nearly a minute of head-down time looking for the adjustment knob. When I looked up again; we were on the active runway and I advised him to immediately taxi off of it. This occurred at a runway hot spot which is poorly lit and not adequately signed. Our taxi clearance called to taxi via east - a - B - cross runway 23 to runway 30. This was read back; but the student missed the right turn onto B and entered the runway. There is no sign indicating the location of taxiway B. I regained control of the situation and the rest of the flight continued without issue. After the flight we reviewed runway hot spots and hold short lines. No aircraft was landing or on the runway at the time. This has not occurred since.this issue could be prevented by correcting the hot spot with signage and lighting.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An instructor reported the student pilot taxied onto FDK Runway 30 at Taxiway A because he missed the signage at the Taxiway A and B intersections which is a hot spot with poor signage and lighting for night operations.

Narrative: I was taking a student on his first cross country night flight toward his private pilot license. With over 35 hours of flight time at this airport; I entrusted the student to taxi to the runway. The aircraft was equipped with a G1000 system which was still adjusted to 'day' brightness. After monitoring the initial completion of the taxi sequence; I proceeded to attempt to adjust the brightness to night mode. Not being very familiar with the system; I spent nearly a minute of head-down time looking for the adjustment knob. When I looked up again; we were on the active runway and I advised him to immediately taxi off of it. This occurred at a runway hot spot which is poorly lit and not adequately signed. Our taxi clearance called to taxi via E - A - B - cross runway 23 to runway 30. This was read back; but the student missed the right turn onto B and entered the runway. There is no sign indicating the location of taxiway B. I regained control of the situation and the rest of the flight continued without issue. After the flight we reviewed runway hot spots and hold short lines. No aircraft was landing or on the runway at the time. This has not occurred since.This issue could be prevented by correcting the hot spot with signage and lighting.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Attributes
ACN	1238002
Time
Date	201502
Place
Locale Reference	FDK.Airport
State Reference	MD
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft High Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Flight Dynamics Navigation and Safety
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying Instructor
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50 Flight Crew Total 380
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Clearance Ground Incursion Runway

An instructor reported the student pilot taxied onto fdk runway 30 at taxiway a because he missed the signage at the taxiway a and B intersections which is a hot spot with poor signage and lighting for night operations.