Narrative:

We were taxiing on the parallel for takeoff on 34L at smf. We were cleared for takeoff prior to reaching the turnoff for the runway. As a result; we began running the before takeoff check below the line. My head was down reading the checklist. I called for [engine checklist] and the captain looked down at the engine instruments to see if they were normal. This occurred right as we were reaching the turnoff to the runway. When we both picked up our heads; we realized that we had missed the turn. We began to coordinate to have a tug tow us back. We also asked whether the taxiway was stressed for our airplane. In the confusion; while we were working ATC and ramp frequencies; ATC told us another company aircraft made the same mistake earlier and they cleared us to continue straight ahead and onto the apron for a 180 and then taxi back onto G1 or G2; our discretion. When we made the turn onto G1; we were notified by ATC that we ran over a taxi light on our right side. We went back to the ramp to have it inspected and to report it to the duty officer. After the airplane was inspected and cleared and the company authorized our departure; we had an uneventful flight to ZZZ1. We were both heads down while taxiing with visual illusion as well. Clearance should be B2; a; A13 to 34L. Put in the notes of the company pages that there is a risk of overshooting the runway entrance to 34L so it will be briefed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier flight crew reported experiencing a taxiway incursion during taxi at SMF airport. Flight crew stated they hit a taxiway light while turning the aircraft around.

Narrative: We were taxiing on the parallel for takeoff on 34L at SMF. We were cleared for takeoff prior to reaching the turnoff for the runway. As a result; we began running the before takeoff check below the line. My head was down reading the checklist. I called for [engine checklist] and the Captain looked down at the engine instruments to see if they were normal. This occurred right as we were reaching the turnoff to the runway. When we both picked up our heads; we realized that we had missed the turn. We began to coordinate to have a tug tow us back. We also asked whether the taxiway was stressed for our airplane. In the confusion; while we were working ATC and ramp frequencies; ATC told us another company aircraft made the same mistake earlier and they cleared us to continue straight ahead and onto the apron for a 180 and then taxi back onto G1 or G2; our discretion. When we made the turn onto G1; we were notified by ATC that we ran over a taxi light on our right side. We went back to the ramp to have it inspected and to report it to the duty officer. After the airplane was inspected and cleared and the company authorized our departure; we had an uneventful flight to ZZZ1. We were both heads down while taxiing with visual illusion as well. Clearance should be B2; A; A13 to 34L. Put in the notes of the company pages that there is a risk of overshooting the runway entrance to 34L so it will be briefed.

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.