Narrative:

PF was the first officer receiving initial operating experience. After routine river visual and landing to runway 18 at dca, the captain (line check airman) took control of the aircraft at approximately 80 KIAS. As he assumed control, dca tower instructed us to turn off at the next right turnoff or roll to the end. At the time we received the instruction we were passing 'F' taxiway and interpreted the next right turn as runway 21. The first officer read back the clearance as the captain began a turn onto runway 21. The tower controller recognized that we were turning onto 21 and immediately sent a landing air carrier Y around on runway 21. I believe the controller misjudged the pace of events and should have instructed us to simply roll to the end. The entire event took place very quickly (a few seconds) and both crew members interpreted the tower's instruction the same way. Fortunately, the first officer's readback included specifically what we intended to do and, fortunately, the tower controller recognized immediately that we had not interpreted his instructions correctly and initiated the go around.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X TURNED ONTO INTERSECTING RWY. ACR Y MADE GAR. NON ADHERENCE TO ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: PF WAS THE FO RECEIVING INITIAL OPERATING EXPERIENCE. AFTER ROUTINE RIVER VISUAL AND LNDG TO RWY 18 AT DCA, THE CAPT (LINE CHK AIRMAN) TOOK CTL OF THE ACFT AT APPROX 80 KIAS. AS HE ASSUMED CTL, DCA TWR INSTRUCTED US TO TURN OFF AT THE NEXT R TURNOFF OR ROLL TO THE END. AT THE TIME WE RECEIVED THE INSTRUCTION WE WERE PASSING 'F' TXWY AND INTERPRETED THE NEXT R TURN AS RWY 21. THE FO READ BACK THE CLRNC AS THE CAPT BEGAN A TURN ONTO RWY 21. THE TWR CTLR RECOGNIZED THAT WE WERE TURNING ONTO 21 AND IMMEDIATELY SENT A LNDG ACR Y AROUND ON RWY 21. I BELIEVE THE CTLR MISJUDGED THE PACE OF EVENTS AND SHOULD HAVE INSTRUCTED US TO SIMPLY ROLL TO THE END. THE ENTIRE EVENT TOOK PLACE VERY QUICKLY (A FEW SECONDS) AND BOTH CREW MEMBERS INTERPRETED THE TWR'S INSTRUCTION THE SAME WAY. FORTUNATELY, THE FO'S READBACK INCLUDED SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE INTENDED TO DO AND, FORTUNATELY, THE TWR CTLR RECOGNIZED IMMEDIATELY THAT WE HAD NOT INTERPRETED HIS INSTRUCTIONS CORRECTLY AND INITIATED THE GAR.

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.