Unauthorized runway entry operation after frequency change premature.

Attributes
ACN	249420
Time
Date	199308
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bak
State Reference	IN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 22 flight time total : 440 flight time type : 22
ASRS Report	249420
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I approached columbus, in (bak) and was given instructions to enter a right base for runway 32, communicating on tower frequency, 118.6. After being cleared to land on runway 32, I approached and landed. Common practice is to turn left onto runway 23 to taxi to taxiway east, to the ramp. As I approached the intersection to runway 5/23, I had not yet received taxi instructions from the tower, as expected. At this point I switched from tower frequency to ground on 121.6 as I turned onto runway 23, and asked if it was ok to be on this runway. Controller's response was he had an aircraft on approach to runway 5, and expedite my taxi to the ramp. He then asked if I had copied his transmission to other traffic? I replied 'negative.' after taxiing to the ramp, I attempted to contact ground to get a clarification as to what he had been referring. Since the time was now about PM05L, and the tower closes at PM00L, I was unable to raise him on the radio. About that time I saw an aircraft land on runway 5. I am assuming that the tower had communicated with the landing aircraft just after I changed frequencys, and just prior to him replying to me on ground frequency. I believe I made a compound error: I should not have changed from tower frequency until instructed to do so by the tower, and I believe I should not have proceeded onto the other runway without having been cleared to. I have since clarified that I should remain on the tower frequency until instructed to change. I have not been able to confirm the need for clearance to taxi on the other runway when I was not given taxi instructions upon landing. When to change from tower frequency to ground upon landing, and when to change from tower frequency to departure on takeoff have always been vague to me. If I assume I am supposed to be instructed to change frequencys, then it is not promoted by ATC, as I have frequently encountered, thus contributing to my confusion. In the future, I will remain on tower frequency, and will not cross a runway without taxi instructions, which I will ask for if I haven't received them prior to crossing a runway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH RWY ENTRY OP AFTER FREQ CHANGE PREMATURE.

Narrative: I APCHED COLUMBUS, IN (BAK) AND WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO ENTER A R BASE FOR RWY 32, COMMUNICATING ON TWR FREQ, 118.6. AFTER BEING CLRED TO LAND ON RWY 32, I APCHED AND LANDED. COMMON PRACTICE IS TO TURN L ONTO RWY 23 TO TAXI TO TXWY E, TO THE RAMP. AS I APCHED THE INTXN TO RWY 5/23, I HAD NOT YET RECEIVED TAXI INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE TWR, AS EXPECTED. AT THIS POINT I SWITCHED FROM TWR FREQ TO GND ON 121.6 AS I TURNED ONTO RWY 23, AND ASKED IF IT WAS OK TO BE ON THIS RWY. CTLR'S RESPONSE WAS HE HAD AN ACFT ON APCH TO RWY 5, AND EXPEDITE MY TAXI TO THE RAMP. HE THEN ASKED IF I HAD COPIED HIS XMISSION TO OTHER TFC? I REPLIED 'NEGATIVE.' AFTER TAXIING TO THE RAMP, I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT GND TO GET A CLARIFICATION AS TO WHAT HE HAD BEEN REFERRING. SINCE THE TIME WAS NOW ABOUT PM05L, AND THE TWR CLOSES AT PM00L, I WAS UNABLE TO RAISE HIM ON THE RADIO. ABOUT THAT TIME I SAW AN ACFT LAND ON RWY 5. I AM ASSUMING THAT THE TWR HAD COMMUNICATED WITH THE LNDG ACFT JUST AFTER I CHANGED FREQS, AND JUST PRIOR TO HIM REPLYING TO ME ON GND FREQ. I BELIEVE I MADE A COMPOUND ERROR: I SHOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED FROM TWR FREQ UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY THE TWR, AND I BELIEVE I SHOULD NOT HAVE PROCEEDED ONTO THE OTHER RWY WITHOUT HAVING BEEN CLRED TO. I HAVE SINCE CLARIFIED THAT I SHOULD REMAIN ON THE TWR FREQ UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO CHANGE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM THE NEED FOR CLRNC TO TAXI ON THE OTHER RWY WHEN I WAS NOT GIVEN TAXI INSTRUCTIONS UPON LNDG. WHEN TO CHANGE FROM TWR FREQ TO GND UPON LNDG, AND WHEN TO CHANGE FROM TWR FREQ TO DEP ON TKOF HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VAGUE TO ME. IF I ASSUME I AM SUPPOSED TO BE INSTRUCTED TO CHANGE FREQS, THEN IT IS NOT PROMOTED BY ATC, AS I HAVE FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED, THUS CONTRIBUTING TO MY CONFUSION. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL REMAIN ON TWR FREQ, AND WILL NOT CROSS A RWY WITHOUT TAXI INSTRUCTIONS, WHICH I WILL ASK FOR IF I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THEM PRIOR TO XING A RWY.

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.