Operational error, aircraft was directed to ground hold directly under the approach path of a runway...

Attributes
ACN	302909
Time
Date	199504
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-10 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	ground : holding ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	ATR Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	302909
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground critical incursion : runway non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error
Situations
Airport	other physical facility

Narrative:

We were cleared by ewr tower to proceed on taxiway Z to hold short of taxiway zb. At holding short of taxiway zb, we were switched over to tower control. Thereafter, tower control cleared us to proceed on taxiway zb to hold short of runway 22L on runway 29. Once on runway 29 and holding short of runway 22L, an ATR aircraft flew low over us for landing on runway 22L. Shortly thereafter the tower instructed us in an angry voice to taxi via (along) runway 11/29 and to join taxiway Z again via taxiway north. It is very confusing for pilots to understand what the controllers really want at that area of ewr. Around taxiway zb, there are different holding lines which are not very clear for which runways. A detailed new chart would be helpful for that area. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter flies for a major united states air carrier. He is sure that ground control told him to hold on runway 29. There are many lines all over the place at the end of runways 22 and 29. It is difficult to choose which one is the correct one. 'That's newark!' says the reporter.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: OPERROR, ACFT WAS DIRECTED TO GND HOLD DIRECTLY UNDER THE APCH PATH OF A RWY.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED BY EWR TWR TO PROCEED ON TXWY Z TO HOLD SHORT OF TXWY ZB. AT HOLDING SHORT OF TXWY ZB, WE WERE SWITCHED OVER TO TWR CTL. THEREAFTER, TWR CTL CLRED US TO PROCEED ON TXWY ZB TO HOLD SHORT OF RWY 22L ON RWY 29. ONCE ON RWY 29 AND HOLDING SHORT OF RWY 22L, AN ATR ACFT FLEW LOW OVER US FOR LNDG ON RWY 22L. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE TWR INSTRUCTED US IN AN ANGRY VOICE TO TAXI VIA (ALONG) RWY 11/29 AND TO JOIN TXWY Z AGAIN VIA TXWY N. IT IS VERY CONFUSING FOR PLTS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CTLRS REALLY WANT AT THAT AREA OF EWR. AROUND TXWY ZB, THERE ARE DIFFERENT HOLDING LINES WHICH ARE NOT VERY CLR FOR WHICH RWYS. A DETAILED NEW CHART WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THAT AREA. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR FLIES FOR A MAJOR UNITED STATES ACR. HE IS SURE THAT GND CTL TOLD HIM TO HOLD ON RWY 29. THERE ARE MANY LINES ALL OVER THE PLACE AT THE END OF RWYS 22 AND 29. IT IS DIFFICULT TO CHOOSE WHICH ONE IS THE CORRECT ONE. 'THAT'S NEWARK!' SAYS THE RPTR.

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.