An small aircraft pilot inadvertently crossed a runway hold line in a night operation.

Attributes
ACN	261595
Time
Date	199401
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : new
State Reference	LA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : holding ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Citation I
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 5300 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	261595
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Airport
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
Airport	other physical facility procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

I inadvertently crossed the hold line for runway 36L because the line makes a 90 degree turn and runs perpendicular to runway 36L and this perpendicular line is hidden from the aircraft taxi light because the line is drawn in a trough in the pavement. I became aware that I was on the runway and immediately turned around while reporting the problem to tower controller. A jet landing on runway 18R observed the incursion and stated that they almost decided to go around. It was at this time that the controller realized what had happened and asked me to hold my position since I had cleared the runway. I called the controller at the conclusion of the flight and he stated that this has been a problem for the controllers and other incursions had occurred at this exact place. If lakefront controllers know of this problem, why not devise a simple fix -- like not painting lines in troughs? Later, they could get rid of the 90 degree turn in the line.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT INADVERTENTLY CROSSED A RWY HOLD LINE IN A NIGHT OP.

Narrative: I INADVERTENTLY CROSSED THE HOLD LINE FOR RWY 36L BECAUSE THE LINE MAKES A 90 DEG TURN AND RUNS PERPENDICULAR TO RWY 36L AND THIS PERPENDICULAR LINE IS HIDDEN FROM THE ACFT TAXI LIGHT BECAUSE THE LINE IS DRAWN IN A TROUGH IN THE PAVEMENT. I BECAME AWARE THAT I WAS ON THE RWY AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED AROUND WHILE RPTING THE PROB TO TWR CTLR. A JET LNDG ON RWY 18R OBSERVED THE INCURSION AND STATED THAT THEY ALMOST DECIDED TO GAR. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT THE CTLR REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND ASKED ME TO HOLD MY POS SINCE I HAD CLRED THE RWY. I CALLED THE CTLR AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE FLT AND HE STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROB FOR THE CTLRS AND OTHER INCURSIONS HAD OCCURRED AT THIS EXACT PLACE. IF LAKEFRONT CTLRS KNOW OF THIS PROB, WHY NOT DEVISE A SIMPLE FIX -- LIKE NOT PAINTING LINES IN TROUGHS? LATER, THEY COULD GET RID OF THE 90 DEG TURN IN THE LINE.

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.