Reporter taxies across active runway he is instructed to taxi to.

Attributes
ACN	319272
Time
Date	199510
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dsm
State Reference	IA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 110
ASRS Report	319272
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : ground
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I had called ground control at dsm and advised them I was at the south 'T' hangars and would like to taxi for takeoff. Ground control said, 'you are cleared to taxi to runway 13R.' I acknowledged and began to taxi to runway 13R. In the process to get to the approach end of runway 13R I had to cross runway 13R (which I errantly did cross runway 13R). I was advised by the ground controller of my error. There was no apparent traffic for or on runway 13R, hence no incident but still my error. I feel ground controllers should use different phraseology when clearing an aircraft to the active runway. The human mind gets tricked into thinking you're cleared to the takeoff end of the active runway when really you're only cleared to the active runway and should hold short. 'Hold short' instructions should be included by the controller to eliminate confusion. Also note this is the only event (known to me) where you are 'cleared' that means something else, ie, if you use 'cleared to land,' you don't have to go into a holding pattern. We should all say exactly what we mean. 'Taxi to runway 13R and hold short.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR TAXIES ACROSS ACTIVE RWY HE IS INSTRUCTED TO TAXI TO.

Narrative: I HAD CALLED GND CTL AT DSM AND ADVISED THEM I WAS AT THE S 'T' HANGARS AND WOULD LIKE TO TAXI FOR TKOF. GND CTL SAID, 'YOU ARE CLRED TO TAXI TO RWY 13R.' I ACKNOWLEDGED AND BEGAN TO TAXI TO RWY 13R. IN THE PROCESS TO GET TO THE APCH END OF RWY 13R I HAD TO CROSS RWY 13R (WHICH I ERRANTLY DID CROSS RWY 13R). I WAS ADVISED BY THE GND CTLR OF MY ERROR. THERE WAS NO APPARENT TFC FOR OR ON RWY 13R, HENCE NO INCIDENT BUT STILL MY ERROR. I FEEL GND CTLRS SHOULD USE DIFFERENT PHRASEOLOGY WHEN CLRING AN ACFT TO THE ACTIVE RWY. THE HUMAN MIND GETS TRICKED INTO THINKING YOU'RE CLRED TO THE TKOF END OF THE ACTIVE RWY WHEN REALLY YOU'RE ONLY CLRED TO THE ACTIVE RWY AND SHOULD HOLD SHORT. 'HOLD SHORT' INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD BE INCLUDED BY THE CTLR TO ELIMINATE CONFUSION. ALSO NOTE THIS IS THE ONLY EVENT (KNOWN TO ME) WHERE YOU ARE 'CLRED' THAT MEANS SOMETHING ELSE, IE, IF YOU USE 'CLRED TO LAND,' YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO A HOLDING PATTERN. WE SHOULD ALL SAY EXACTLY WHAT WE MEAN. 'TAXI TO RWY 13R AND HOLD SHORT.'

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.