Small aircraft X runway incursion.

Attributes
ACN	325129
Time
Date	199601
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : wjf
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Baron 58/58TC
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 140
ASRS Report	325129
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	controller : ground
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was given a taxi clearance to runway 24 at wjf. Starting from the fuel pumps which are approximately mid-field, I proceeded to what I thought was the entrance to the parallel taxiway but was actually the mid-field intersection for runway 6/24. It was just getting dark and the entry to the runway was lined with blue lights. The runway lights must have been off because there were no red runway edge lights visible. Runways are normally marked by a red illuminated sign at the hold short line. I saw no such sign for runway 6/24 at the intersection which is why I mistook it for a taxiway. I never entered the runway proper. As I was taxiing, I noticed the hold lines painted on the ground but it was too late. Just as I was on the brakes, the tower called and said that I was at the intersection and that I should reverse and proceed down the taxiway. The tower controller said that there was no problem because he had no inbound or outbound traffic. 2 items come to mind that could prevent such incidents in the future. First, pilots should fully brief the airport layout and not rush when attempting to reach a runway. Pilots should be especially careful in the 'relaxed' environment of an airport experiencing little or no traffic. Second, wjf should install standard airport markings and lighting. Callback conversation with airport manager revealed the following information: airport manager stated all airport markings and signage are in compliance with FAA standards. He stated there are signs at the intersection the reporter taxied to.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA X RWY INCURSION.

Narrative: I WAS GIVEN A TAXI CLRNC TO RWY 24 AT WJF. STARTING FROM THE FUEL PUMPS WHICH ARE APPROX MID-FIELD, I PROCEEDED TO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE ENTRANCE TO THE PARALLEL TXWY BUT WAS ACTUALLY THE MID-FIELD INTXN FOR RWY 6/24. IT WAS JUST GETTING DARK AND THE ENTRY TO THE RWY WAS LINED WITH BLUE LIGHTS. THE RWY LIGHTS MUST HAVE BEEN OFF BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RED RWY EDGE LIGHTS VISIBLE. RWYS ARE NORMALLY MARKED BY A RED ILLUMINATED SIGN AT THE HOLD SHORT LINE. I SAW NO SUCH SIGN FOR RWY 6/24 AT THE INTXN WHICH IS WHY I MISTOOK IT FOR A TXWY. I NEVER ENTERED THE RWY PROPER. AS I WAS TAXIING, I NOTICED THE HOLD LINES PAINTED ON THE GND BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. JUST AS I WAS ON THE BRAKES, THE TWR CALLED AND SAID THAT I WAS AT THE INTXN AND THAT I SHOULD REVERSE AND PROCEED DOWN THE TXWY. THE TWR CTLR SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PROB BECAUSE HE HAD NO INBOUND OR OUTBOUND TFC. 2 ITEMS COME TO MIND THAT COULD PREVENT SUCH INCIDENTS IN THE FUTURE. FIRST, PLTS SHOULD FULLY BRIEF THE ARPT LAYOUT AND NOT RUSH WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REACH A RWY. PLTS SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL IN THE 'RELAXED' ENVIRONMENT OF AN ARPT EXPERIENCING LITTLE OR NO TFC. SECOND, WJF SHOULD INSTALL STANDARD ARPT MARKINGS AND LIGHTING. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH ARPT MGR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: ARPT MGR STATED ALL ARPT MARKINGS AND SIGNAGE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FAA STANDARDS. HE STATED THERE ARE SIGNS AT THE INTXN THE RPTR TAXIED TO.

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.