Narrative:

During the cruise portion of the flight; in the approach briefing for the ILS-backed-up visual for runway 6 into bdl; I briefed that we would exit the runway to the right and take another right to parallel the landing runway to the terminal crossing runways as need be (with the understanding we'd be staying clear of the GA ramp are). Upon rollout during landing on runway 6; we were given the taxi instructions 'exit hotel; echo; sierra; cross runway 15 on echo.' I was preoccupied with determining the turnoff point on to hotel while also switching from my approach plate to the taxi diagram on jeppview. The first officer (first officer) read back the instructions as I focused on the turn. As I was turning right off of hotel (onto what I thought was echo but was actually charlie); I asked the first officer 'hold short; correct?' he said; 'negative; we were cleared to cross but let me verify.' he verified that we were cleared to cross 'runway 15.' I continued slowly on the taxiway we were on; past the hold-short markings of the first runway that I thought we had been cleared to cross. Before crossing the hold-short markings; however; we both stated each direction clear and I preceded to turn on all of the exterior lights. Upon crossing the hold-short markings; we both felt like there was something 'off' about what I had just done; so we came to a stop just beyond the markings but well before the actual runway pavement. At this point the controller stepped in to tell us that '[company]; it looks like you missed your turn. Continue onto runway 19 and taxi runway 19; tango; echo; sierra; cross runway 19 on echo.' at this point; I made the revelation that we had been on taxiway charlie; rather than echo. I asked if we could switch to ground control; but was told the controller was working both frequencies. I knew I wanted to confirm literally every runway and taxiway in real-time after that as a precaution; and I didn't want to busy the frequency. I accepted the error; and we continued on runway 19 to tango; turned onto tango; joined echo (for real this time); and stopped short of runway 15 to confirm our instructions to cross. Crossed runway 15 at echo; and continued sierra into the ramp. Both the first officer and I realized the incursion at about the same time. To his credit; he did start to speak up right as I hit the brakes. We both felt an uncomfortable feeling a second prior to realizing that I had taxied the wrong way; and that's when I hit the brakes. It was obviously my fault as I was the one at the controls. I unfortunately was preoccupied with finding the turn off of runway 6; and I was a little distracted with changing my hand from control yoke to tiller; while also trying to use my hand to change the approach plate to the taxiway diagram to fully comprehend the ATC instructions. Upon comprehending some of the instructions; I assumed that hotel and echo must be connected by an intersection according to what the controller had given us as instructions. Little did I know; I would have to travel on taxiway charlie for a very short distance before turning left onto taxiway echo. I saw the 'east' there by the intersection during a quick glance at the taxiway diagram. A quick look at the taxi plate was enough to confuse me; and that echo actually proceeded south rather than continuing on to cross runway 19 as taxiway charlie did. My error was further aided by the instructions that did not include charlie; and that we staring into the setting sun looking for possible signs/markings. We accepted the error and proceeded to verify every single instruction to the extreme. We verified we were cleared to cross runway 15 a total of four times when everything was said and done. I only have two suggestions. Number one would to be have ATC say charlie in the taxi clearance and for that taxi clearance to come while finishing the turn off of the runway vs the landing rollout. Number two would be to change the taxiway diagram so that the 'east' would be placed on the east side ofthe taxiway it's designating (possibly with and arrow) and for a 'C' be placed east of the runway 19 intersection; on the north side of the taxiway it's designating.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ Captain reported a taxiway and runway incursion due to confusion with ATC communication and the airport taxiway chart.

Narrative: During the cruise portion of the flight; in the approach briefing for the ILS-backed-up visual for Runway 6 into BDL; I briefed that we would exit the runway to the right and take another right to parallel the landing runway to the terminal crossing runways as need be (with the understanding we'd be staying clear of the GA ramp are). Upon rollout during landing on Runway 6; we were given the taxi instructions 'Exit Hotel; Echo; Sierra; cross Runway 15 on Echo.' I was preoccupied with determining the turnoff point on to Hotel while also switching from my approach plate to the taxi diagram on JeppView. The FO (First Officer) read back the instructions as I focused on the turn. As I was turning right off of Hotel (onto what I thought was Echo but was actually Charlie); I asked the FO 'Hold Short; correct?' He said; 'Negative; we were cleared to cross but let me verify.' He verified that we were cleared to cross 'Runway 15.' I continued slowly on the taxiway we were on; past the hold-short markings of the first runway that I thought we had been cleared to cross. Before crossing the hold-short markings; however; we both stated each direction clear and I preceded to turn on all of the exterior lights. Upon crossing the hold-short markings; we both felt like there was something 'off' about what I had just done; so we came to a stop just beyond the markings but well before the actual runway pavement. At this point the controller stepped in to tell us that '[company]; it looks like you missed your turn. Continue onto Runway 19 and taxi Runway 19; Tango; Echo; Sierra; cross Runway 19 on Echo.' At this point; I made the revelation that we had been on taxiway Charlie; rather than Echo. I asked if we could switch to Ground Control; but was told the controller was working both frequencies. I knew I wanted to confirm literally every runway and taxiway in real-time after that as a precaution; and I didn't want to busy the frequency. I accepted the error; and we continued on Runway 19 to Tango; turned onto Tango; joined Echo (for real this time); and stopped short of Runway 15 to confirm our instructions to cross. Crossed Runway 15 at Echo; and continued Sierra into the ramp. Both the FO and I realized the incursion at about the same time. To his credit; he did start to speak up right as I hit the brakes. We both felt an uncomfortable feeling a second prior to realizing that I had taxied the wrong way; and that's when I hit the brakes. It was obviously my fault as I was the one at the controls. I unfortunately was preoccupied with finding the turn off of Runway 6; and I was a little distracted with changing my hand from control yoke to tiller; while also trying to use my hand to change the approach plate to the taxiway diagram to fully comprehend the ATC instructions. Upon comprehending some of the instructions; I assumed that Hotel and Echo must be connected by an intersection according to what the controller had given us as instructions. Little did I know; I would have to travel on taxiway Charlie for a very short distance before turning left onto taxiway Echo. I saw the 'E' there by the intersection during a quick glance at the taxiway diagram. A quick look at the taxi plate was enough to confuse me; and that Echo actually proceeded south rather than continuing on to cross Runway 19 as taxiway Charlie did. My error was further aided by the instructions that did not include Charlie; and that we staring into the setting sun looking for possible signs/markings. We accepted the error and proceeded to verify every single instruction to the extreme. We verified we were cleared to cross Runway 15 a total of four times when everything was said and done. I only have two suggestions. Number one would to be have ATC say Charlie in the taxi clearance and for that taxi clearance to come while finishing the turn off of the runway vs the landing rollout. Number two would be to change the taxiway diagram so that the 'E' would be placed on the east side ofthe taxiway it's designating (possibly with and arrow) and for a 'C' be placed east of the Runway 19 intersection; on the north side of the taxiway it's designating.

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.