GA aircraft unauthorized runway entry.

Attributes
ACN	144570
Time
Date	199005
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : buf
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	ground : holding
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 240 flight time type : 75
ASRS Report	144570
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

I did my checklist in the runup area and then taxied to the hold line and called the tower. I told the tower, 'aircraft identification ready to depart.' the tower replied, 'aircraft identification hold on 23.' at that point I did not understand whether she wanted me to hold on 23 white line or hold at taxiway for runway 23. So I asked again, 'did you mean hold short on taxiway or hold on runway 23?' she replied, 'hold on runway 23.' then I answered, 'aircraft identification hold runway 23.' part of the confusion may be due to the fact that I was already holding on taxiway when tower made the command to hold on runway. This led me to believe that I was not holding in the place that the tower expected my to be. It is important for me to stress the point that I was holding at the end O the runway and I was not attempting to takeoff. Immediately upon the tower's request, when I realized the miscom, I quickly taxied back off the runway. I am extremely regretful that this incident took place. It has taught me several valuable lessons in regards to communication and traffic awareness.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA ACFT UNAUTH RWY ENTRY.

Narrative: I DID MY CHKLIST IN THE RUNUP AREA AND THEN TAXIED TO THE HOLD LINE AND CALLED THE TWR. I TOLD THE TWR, 'ACFT ID READY TO DEPART.' THE TWR REPLIED, 'ACFT ID HOLD ON 23.' AT THAT POINT I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHETHER SHE WANTED ME TO HOLD ON 23 WHITE LINE OR HOLD AT TXWY FOR RWY 23. SO I ASKED AGAIN, 'DID YOU MEAN HOLD SHORT ON TXWY OR HOLD ON RWY 23?' SHE REPLIED, 'HOLD ON RWY 23.' THEN I ANSWERED, 'ACFT ID HOLD RWY 23.' PART OF THE CONFUSION MAY BE DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS ALREADY HOLDING ON TXWY WHEN TWR MADE THE COMMAND TO HOLD ON RWY. THIS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT I WAS NOT HOLDING IN THE PLACE THAT THE TWR EXPECTED MY TO BE. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO STRESS THE POINT THAT I WAS HOLDING AT THE END O THE RWY AND I WAS NOT ATTEMPTING TO TKOF. IMMEDIATELY UPON THE TWR'S REQUEST, WHEN I REALIZED THE MISCOM, I QUICKLY TAXIED BACK OFF THE RWY. I AM EXTREMELY REGRETFUL THAT THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE. IT HAS TAUGHT ME SEVERAL VALUABLE LESSONS IN REGARDS TO COM AND TFC AWARENESS.

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.