After landing taxi instructions extremely ambiguous.

Attributes
ACN	161428
Time
Date	199011
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 95 flight time total : 2670 flight time type : 205
ASRS Report	161428
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 95 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 205
ASRS Report	161427
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Our aircraft had landed on runway 15 at dca. We slowed almost to a stop abeam taxiway microphone. This would have been our first available taxiway to the terminal. It was then the tower controller said, 'taxi to the next and hold short of 21.' when we continued taxiing looking for 'the next' (assuming taxiway) we came to runway 21. We stopped just short of runway 21, as an aircraft was turning final. After we had stopped the controller had asked us to expedite across 21 and proceed to foxtrot and hold short of 21. There was no conflict that resulted. To get to 'the next' taxiway we would have to cross 21 prior to reaching taxiway foxtrot. Or by 'the next,' did he mean runway 21? In any case, he did say to hold short of 21. At the time, given his instructions to us, it was unclear as to whether we had clearance to cross runway 21. After assessing the situation we feel this unclarity of meaning could have been avoided had the controller stated, 'proceed across runway 21 to foxtrot and hold short of 21.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER LNDG TAXI INSTRUCTIONS EXTREMELY AMBIGUOUS.

Narrative: OUR ACFT HAD LANDED ON RWY 15 AT DCA. WE SLOWED ALMOST TO A STOP ABEAM TXWY MIKE. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN OUR FIRST AVAILABLE TXWY TO THE TERMINAL. IT WAS THEN THE TWR CTLR SAID, 'TAXI TO THE NEXT AND HOLD SHORT OF 21.' WHEN WE CONTINUED TAXIING LOOKING FOR 'THE NEXT' (ASSUMING TXWY) WE CAME TO RWY 21. WE STOPPED JUST SHORT OF RWY 21, AS AN ACFT WAS TURNING FINAL. AFTER WE HAD STOPPED THE CTLR HAD ASKED US TO EXPEDITE ACROSS 21 AND PROCEED TO FOXTROT AND HOLD SHORT OF 21. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT THAT RESULTED. TO GET TO 'THE NEXT' TXWY WE WOULD HAVE TO CROSS 21 PRIOR TO REACHING TXWY FOXTROT. OR BY 'THE NEXT,' DID HE MEAN RWY 21? IN ANY CASE, HE DID SAY TO HOLD SHORT OF 21. AT THE TIME, GIVEN HIS INSTRUCTIONS TO US, IT WAS UNCLEAR AS TO WHETHER WE HAD CLRNC TO CROSS RWY 21. AFTER ASSESSING THE SITUATION WE FEEL THIS UNCLARITY OF MEANING COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD THE CTLR STATED, 'PROCEED ACROSS RWY 21 TO FOXTROT AND HOLD SHORT OF 21.'

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.