Narrative:

We were given a wheels up time on our initial call to ground and were given taxi instructions to 7L at A8 via B. As we were taxiing; ground told us to pull off into holding pad 1. After holding for a few minutes; ground instructed us to taxi to 7L at A8 via B. It was very dark and difficult to see any taxi lines departing the pad. I began taxiing toward the green taxi lines that I saw toward our left and toward A6. In my mind I was thinking that taxiway C was in front of us and taxiway B was on the other side of C as it is going out from spot 10. In reality taxiway C ends there at holding pad 1. ATC asked us if we were turning left which was when I realized my mistake and started a right turn. My first officer told me to stop because we were too close to the edge of the taxiway to make a safe turn back to the right. We were too close to the unpaved area and told ATC we were going to need to call for a tug to be pushed back. I called our operations. They coordinated with for a pushback back into holding pad 1. After starting the engines and performing the appropriate checklists and briefings for the new runway (1R) and taxi instructions; we taxied to 1R via B; D.I need to remember that even though I'm very familiar with las; it is very important to brief the taxi instructions and communicate with my first officer. Had I verbally said what I was doing; my first officer would have had the opportunity to correct me. Also; before I release the parking brake; I need to look at the route on the taxi chart even though I'm familiar with the airport. Another thing that would be a big help in situations like this would be to install taxiway edge lights on the taxiways.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier flight crew reported continuing on Taxiway B to Runway 7L. Exiting Holding Pad 1; the crew did not see the Taxiway B markings and continued straight until too close to the taxiway edge to safely turn. A tug was sent to assist.

Narrative: We were given a wheels up time on our initial call to Ground and were given taxi instructions to 7L at A8 via B. As we were taxiing; ground told us to pull off into Holding Pad 1. After holding for a few minutes; ground instructed us to taxi to 7L at A8 via B. It was very dark and difficult to see any taxi lines departing the pad. I began taxiing toward the green taxi lines that I saw toward our left and toward A6. In my mind I was thinking that Taxiway C was in front of us and Taxiway B was on the other side of C as it is going out from Spot 10. In reality Taxiway C ends there at Holding Pad 1. ATC asked us if we were turning left which was when I realized my mistake and started a right turn. My FO told me to STOP because we were too close to the edge of the taxiway to make a safe turn back to the right. We were too close to the unpaved area and told ATC we were going to need to call for a tug to be pushed back. I called our Operations. They coordinated with for a pushback back into holding pad 1. After starting the engines and performing the appropriate checklists and briefings for the new runway (1R) and taxi instructions; we taxied to 1R via B; D.I need to remember that even though I'm very familiar with LAS; it is very important to brief the taxi instructions and communicate with my FO. Had I verbally said what I was doing; my FO would have had the opportunity to correct me. Also; before I release the parking brake; I need to look at the route on the taxi chart even though I'm familiar with the airport. Another thing that would be a big help in situations like this would be to install taxiway edge lights on the taxiways.

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.