Narrative:

Received clearance to taxi to runway 3C via standard taxi and remain on same frequency. I ran first 2 items on before takeoff checklist stopping the checklist as we crossed runway 9/27. Once on the other side we resumed the checklist and momentarily stopped on trim since we had a discrepancy in the trim indicators. Once resolved we continued to taxi and complete the checklist. At this point we were coming up on a 45 degree bend in the taxiway route to the end of the runway where taxiway F intersects taxiway X. At this time the lead flight attendant opened the cockpit door to make her required report that the cabin was secured for takeoff. The captain turned to acknowledge her at which time I looked down to switch my microphone to PA to make the required announcement that the flight attendants be seated for departure. It was during this event that the 45 degree turn was missed and we continued straight ahead approaching runway 3C. The captain abruptly applied the brakes and we stopped at the edge of the runway. I believe the cause of this missed taxiway due to the interruption by the flight attendant during taxi and the lack of adequate signs. Although her report is required, it came at the wrong time and provided enough distraction to cause a mistake. Crew had been on duty 9 hours and 28 mins at time of occurrence.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF LGT ACR ACFT INADVERTENTLY TAXIED PAST CLRNC LIMIT TO ACTIVE RWY RESULTING IN A NEW AMENDED CLRNC TO TAXI DOWN THE RWY. THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT IN FOG AND RAIN.

Narrative: RECEIVED CLRNC TO TAXI TO RWY 3C VIA STANDARD TAXI AND REMAIN ON SAME FREQ. I RAN FIRST 2 ITEMS ON BEFORE TKOF CHKLIST STOPPING THE CHKLIST AS WE CROSSED RWY 9/27. ONCE ON THE OTHER SIDE WE RESUMED THE CHKLIST AND MOMENTARILY STOPPED ON TRIM SINCE WE HAD A DISCREPANCY IN THE TRIM INDICATORS. ONCE RESOLVED WE CONTINUED TO TAXI AND COMPLETE THE CHKLIST. AT THIS POINT WE WERE COMING UP ON A 45 DEG BEND IN THE TAXIWAY RTE TO THE END OF THE RWY WHERE TAXIWAY F INTERSECTS TAXIWAY X. AT THIS TIME THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT OPENED THE COCKPIT DOOR TO MAKE HER REQUIRED RPT THAT THE CABIN WAS SECURED FOR TKOF. THE CAPT TURNED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER AT WHICH TIME I LOOKED DOWN TO SWITCH MY MICROPHONE TO PA TO MAKE THE REQUIRED ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE FLT ATTENDANTS BE SEATED FOR DEP. IT WAS DURING THIS EVENT THAT THE 45 DEG TURN WAS MISSED AND WE CONTINUED STRAIGHT AHEAD APCHING RWY 3C. THE CAPT ABRUPTLY APPLIED THE BRAKES AND WE STOPPED AT THE EDGE OF THE RWY. I BELIEVE THE CAUSE OF THIS MISSED TAXIWAY DUE TO THE INTERRUPTION BY THE FLT ATTENDANT DURING TAXI AND THE LACK OF ADEQUATE SIGNS. ALTHOUGH HER RPT IS REQUIRED, IT CAME AT THE WRONG TIME AND PROVIDED ENOUGH DISTR TO CAUSE A MISTAKE. CREW HAD BEEN ON DUTY 9 HRS AND 28 MINS AT TIME OF OCCURRENCE.

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.