Narrative:

I was given taxi instructions to runway 9L. I have flown in and out of oakland for over 10 yrs but never departed from the 9 runways -- always 27R and 27L. It was very poorly marked and consequently I went past the intersection, had to turn around, go over the end of an intersecting runway (33) to get to number 9. In so doing I apparently went beyond 9L and was proceeding towards 9R when the controller advised me to continue on to 9R and cleared me for takeoff. This is a very confusing area that should be more clearly marked. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states he was on taxiway J and cleared to cross 33. Looking for a runway, he crossed 9L. As he looked at diagram after the fact, it seems impossible to cross 33 via J. He received a call from FAA inspector who said they have had problems with this taxiway area. Inspector suggested he go back and look over the area to see where he failed. Reporter did so with an instructor and requested 33 departure. Confirmed it is impossible to cross 33 from the stated taxiway. Signs are not clearly visible. When he called inspector back and told him the situation, inspector stated there was a group checking over the situation at that time. Inspector stated probably some remedial work would be required. Reporter asked, what are we going to do, go out and taxi all over the airport? He has since been told no further action will be taken.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA TAXIES PAST DESIRED TAXIWAY, TURNS. ATC CLRS TO CROSS RWY 33, RPTR CROSSES RWY 9L.

Narrative: I WAS GIVEN TAXI INSTRUCTIONS TO RWY 9L. I HAVE FLOWN IN AND OUT OF OAKLAND FOR OVER 10 YRS BUT NEVER DEPARTED FROM THE 9 RWYS -- ALWAYS 27R AND 27L. IT WAS VERY POORLY MARKED AND CONSEQUENTLY I WENT PAST THE INTXN, HAD TO TURN AROUND, GO OVER THE END OF AN INTERSECTING RWY (33) TO GET TO NUMBER 9. IN SO DOING I APPARENTLY WENT BEYOND 9L AND WAS PROCEEDING TOWARDS 9R WHEN THE CTLR ADVISED ME TO CONTINUE ON TO 9R AND CLRED ME FOR TKOF. THIS IS A VERY CONFUSING AREA THAT SHOULD BE MORE CLRLY MARKED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES HE WAS ON TAXIWAY J AND CLRED TO CROSS 33. LOOKING FOR A RWY, HE CROSSED 9L. AS HE LOOKED AT DIAGRAM AFTER THE FACT, IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE TO CROSS 33 VIA J. HE RECEIVED A CALL FROM FAA INSPECTOR WHO SAID THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS TAXIWAY AREA. INSPECTOR SUGGESTED HE GO BACK AND LOOK OVER THE AREA TO SEE WHERE HE FAILED. RPTR DID SO WITH AN INSTRUCTOR AND REQUESTED 33 DEP. CONFIRMED IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CROSS 33 FROM THE STATED TAXIWAY. SIGNS ARE NOT CLRLY VISIBLE. WHEN HE CALLED INSPECTOR BACK AND TOLD HIM THE SITUATION, INSPECTOR STATED THERE WAS A GROUP CHKING OVER THE SITUATION AT THAT TIME. INSPECTOR STATED PROBABLY SOME REMEDIAL WORK WOULD BE REQUIRED. RPTR ASKED, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO, GO OUT AND TAXI ALL OVER THE ARPT? HE HAS SINCE BEEN TOLD NO FURTHER ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.

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.