Narrative:

When we called for taxi from the gate in sdf we were given 'taxi to runway 35 via txwys M, G.' from the instructions I assumed that taxiway M and taxiway G would take me to runway 35. It actually takes txwys M, G, D, to get to runway 35. When I got on taxiway G I started taxiing assuming it would take me to runway 35. We were doing the checklist and when we finished, then I realized that we were approaching an active runway and that the heading we were on was not correct to take us to runway 35. I saw an aircraft on final and stopped short of runway 35. The first officer had prematurely switched the radio to tower. When ground control made a call to us that we had missed taxiway D there was no response from us and assuming we would cross runway 35 they sent the aircraft (another air carrier B737) on final around. I feel 3 things caused this mistake: the taxi instructions should have been txwys M, G, D, to runway 35 instead of runway 35 via txwys M and G. This would have let me know that when I got on taxiway G I still had another turn to make to get to runway 35. Sometimes due to the controller's familiarity with the area they assume you are equally familiar with the airport. The first officer switched frequency too early. I allowed a checklist to divert my attention and missed the fact that taxiway G would not get me to runway 35.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR B737 FLC RECEIVES INCOMPLETE TAXI INSTRUCTIONS FROM GND CTLR TO RWY 35 AND THEN SWITCHES TO TWR BEFORE THE GND CTLR COULD GIVE FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. THE ATCT LCL CTLR INSTRUCTS A COMPANY ACFT ON FINAL APCH TO GAR WHEN THE RPTR'S ACFT CROSSES THE HOLD LINE FOR RWY 35.

Narrative: WHEN WE CALLED FOR TAXI FROM THE GATE IN SDF WE WERE GIVEN 'TAXI TO RWY 35 VIA TXWYS M, G.' FROM THE INSTRUCTIONS I ASSUMED THAT TXWY M AND TXWY G WOULD TAKE ME TO RWY 35. IT ACTUALLY TAKES TXWYS M, G, D, TO GET TO RWY 35. WHEN I GOT ON TXWY G I STARTED TAXIING ASSUMING IT WOULD TAKE ME TO RWY 35. WE WERE DOING THE CHKLIST AND WHEN WE FINISHED, THEN I REALIZED THAT WE WERE APCHING AN ACTIVE RWY AND THAT THE HEADING WE WERE ON WAS NOT CORRECT TO TAKE US TO RWY 35. I SAW AN ACFT ON FINAL AND STOPPED SHORT OF RWY 35. THE FO HAD PREMATURELY SWITCHED THE RADIO TO TWR. WHEN GND CTL MADE A CALL TO US THAT WE HAD MISSED TXWY D THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM US AND ASSUMING WE WOULD CROSS RWY 35 THEY SENT THE ACFT (ANOTHER ACR B737) ON FINAL AROUND. I FEEL 3 THINGS CAUSED THIS MISTAKE: THE TAXI INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TXWYS M, G, D, TO RWY 35 INSTEAD OF RWY 35 VIA TXWYS M AND G. THIS WOULD HAVE LET ME KNOW THAT WHEN I GOT ON TXWY G I STILL HAD ANOTHER TURN TO MAKE TO GET TO RWY 35. SOMETIMES DUE TO THE CTLR'S FAMILIARITY WITH THE AREA THEY ASSUME YOU ARE EQUALLY FAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT. THE FO SWITCHED FREQ TOO EARLY. I ALLOWED A CHKLIST TO DIVERT MY ATTN AND MISSED THE FACT THAT TXWY G WOULD NOT GET ME TO RWY 35.

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.