Narrative:

I'm afraid an accident similar to the accidental runway incursion at dtw may happen again if runway markings are not improved. Stl is a prime example. During a beautiful clear day, I was cleared by ground control to runway 24, with many other aircraft, due to some work on the 2 normal runways. My instructions from the ramp were via hotel, cross 12R and hold short of 12L. This taxi route turns into runway 17, onto which 5 or 6 aircraft were in line for takeoff at the end of runway 24. There was an equally long line parallel on taxiway. I was then cleared across 12L, then followed the path of the aircraft ahead of me and got behind him in line as hotel became runway 17, now used as a taxiway. Only then did I realize I had taxied across runway 13 west/O specific clearance. This was his intention, even though he had not said this. I am extremely concerned, however, since I had no idea I was crossing a runway. With perfect WX and our fortunate vigilance, I was never in danger, but I could not tell from the markings that I was crossing a runway. This is how terrible accidents happen. The solution, however seems to simple to me. The same small road reflectors that often define highway lanes (like the blue ones that mark location of neighborhood fire hydrants) should be spread in several rows across any taxiway that is about to enter the boundary of a runway. Anytime, day or night, the pilot will have a visual and 'aural' indication as the nose gear ripples across the bumps.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A TAXIING ACR REPORTER BECAME CONFUSED WITH CTLR INSTRUCTIONS AND THOUGHT HE HAD CROSSED A RWY WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I'M AFRAID AN ACCIDENT SIMILAR TO THE ACCIDENTAL RWY INCURSION AT DTW MAY HAPPEN AGAIN IF RWY MARKINGS ARE NOT IMPROVED. STL IS A PRIME EXAMPLE. DURING A BEAUTIFUL CLR DAY, I WAS CLRED BY GND CTL TO RWY 24, WITH MANY OTHER ACFT, DUE TO SOME WORK ON THE 2 NORMAL RWYS. MY INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE RAMP WERE VIA HOTEL, CROSS 12R AND HOLD SHORT OF 12L. THIS TAXI RTE TURNS INTO RWY 17, ONTO WHICH 5 OR 6 ACFT WERE IN LINE FOR TKOF AT THE END OF RWY 24. THERE WAS AN EQUALLY LONG LINE PARALLEL ON TXWY. I WAS THEN CLRED ACROSS 12L, THEN FOLLOWED THE PATH OF THE ACFT AHEAD OF ME AND GOT BEHIND HIM IN LINE AS HOTEL BECAME RWY 17, NOW USED AS A TXWY. ONLY THEN DID I REALIZE I HAD TAXIED ACROSS RWY 13 W/O SPECIFIC CLRNC. THIS WAS HIS INTENTION, EVEN THOUGH HE HAD NOT SAID THIS. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED, HOWEVER, SINCE I HAD NO IDEA I WAS XING A RWY. WITH PERFECT WX AND OUR FORTUNATE VIGILANCE, I WAS NEVER IN DANGER, BUT I COULD NOT TELL FROM THE MARKINGS THAT I WAS XING A RWY. THIS IS HOW TERRIBLE ACCIDENTS HAPPEN. THE SOLUTION, HOWEVER SEEMS TO SIMPLE TO ME. THE SAME SMALL ROAD REFLECTORS THAT OFTEN DEFINE HWY LANES (LIKE THE BLUE ONES THAT MARK LOCATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD FIRE HYDRANTS) SHOULD BE SPREAD IN SEVERAL ROWS ACROSS ANY TXWY THAT IS ABOUT TO ENTER THE BOUNDARY OF A RWY. ANYTIME, DAY OR NIGHT, THE PLT WILL HAVE A VISUAL AND 'AURAL' INDICATION AS THE NOSE GEAR RIPPLES ACROSS THE BUMPS.

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.