Air carrier medium large transport taxies wrong runway at hou, inadvertently enters active runway.

Attributes
ACN	174394
Time
Date	199103
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hou
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lft
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7500
ASRS Report	174394
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : private pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	174280
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Ground controller cleared my aircraft to taxi runway 12R, cross 12L and 17. I taxied from the terminal gate area down taxiway D, holding short of 12L and 17 and 12R, while we waited for load close-out #south. Tower told me, 'go ahead and cross 12L and 17, but hold short of 12R.' (tower did not instruct me to follow the red line and transition to taxiway 3.) I crossed 12L and continued on taxiway D crossing 17. However, I realized that 17 and 12R intersect at taxiway D and that my aircraft nose was onto runway 12R. There was an aircraft approximately 8-9 mi out on final for 12R. I had the copilot tell tower what had happened, and that we were clearing 12R to the west side (taxiway west), therefore crossing the runway and clearing. No evasive action was needed or taken by the other aircraft on final for 12R. We taxied back for a normal takeoff. Tower advised that there was no problem--'don't worry!' I suggest aircraft be reminded of the red line transition to taxiway east. A lighted red line would help--especially at night. A lighted sign would also be helpful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG TAXIES WRONG RWY AT HOU, INADVERTENTLY ENTERS ACTIVE RWY.

Narrative: GND CTLR CLRED MY ACFT TO TAXI RWY 12R, CROSS 12L AND 17. I TAXIED FROM THE TERMINAL GATE AREA DOWN TXWY D, HOLDING SHORT OF 12L AND 17 AND 12R, WHILE WE WAITED FOR LOAD CLOSE-OUT #S. TWR TOLD ME, 'GO AHEAD AND CROSS 12L AND 17, BUT HOLD SHORT OF 12R.' (TWR DID NOT INSTRUCT ME TO FOLLOW THE RED LINE AND TRANSITION TO TXWY 3.) I CROSSED 12L AND CONTINUED ON TXWY D XING 17. HOWEVER, I REALIZED THAT 17 AND 12R INTERSECT AT TXWY D AND THAT MY ACFT NOSE WAS ONTO RWY 12R. THERE WAS AN ACFT APPROX 8-9 MI OUT ON FINAL FOR 12R. I HAD THE COPLT TELL TWR WHAT HAD HAPPENED, AND THAT WE WERE CLRING 12R TO THE W SIDE (TXWY W), THEREFORE XING THE RWY AND CLRING. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS NEEDED OR TAKEN BY THE OTHER ACFT ON FINAL FOR 12R. WE TAXIED BACK FOR A NORMAL TKOF. TWR ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO PROB--'DON'T WORRY!' I SUGGEST ACFT BE REMINDED OF THE RED LINE TRANSITION TO TXWY E. A LIGHTED RED LINE WOULD HELP--ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. A LIGHTED SIGN WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL.

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.