Narrative:

While taxiing on runway 28 approach end to hold short of runway 23L, my first officer switched to tower frequency 120.92 instead of 120.9, mistake #1. I, the captain did not notice. While rechking a checklist item and proper response, I buried my head down into the checklist, mistake #2. The first officer called to my attention the fact I had crossed a hold line on runway 28, for runway 23L, mistake #3. The radio was quiet and we discovered the frequency misplaced 1 digit. Coming up on correct frequency the tower chided us for crossing the hold line. Another air carrier was landing! We were then cleared to cross runway 23L and takeoff on runway 23R. The main problem was my head was down reviewing a challenge and response item on our company checklist. 2 weeks ago I had been told by a company check airman that my response was wrong on an approach item. The same item was on the 'before takeoff' checklist. This internal discrepancy led to my attention being diverted and crossing the hold line. One other point. I have noticed in the past that the airplane flow by ground control at cle is to put you on the runway 28 at taxiway U, hold short of taxiway J, or the hold short line of runway 23L painted on runway 28, contact tower there. This all seemed like a 'bastardized' flow with confusing markings on runway 28. I personally think this is not good and will lead to further trouble. Granted, I was at fault with my head down, but it is these confusing 'coffin corners' where 'murphee' lives. Beware! If I find this procedure 'out of the norm' with nearly 12000 hours, there are others. That intersection of runway 28, runway 23L, taxiway J, and a hold line on the runway is asking for trouble.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MLG ACR FLC DIALS IN THE WRONG FREQ FOR TWR WHILE THE CAPT IS TAXIING, HEAD DOWN, AND THEY CROSS THE HOLD SHORT LINE FOR AN ACTIVE RWY IN THE CONFUSION.

Narrative: WHILE TAXIING ON RWY 28 APCH END TO HOLD SHORT OF RWY 23L, MY FO SWITCHED TO TWR FREQ 120.92 INSTEAD OF 120.9, MISTAKE #1. I, THE CAPT DID NOT NOTICE. WHILE RECHKING A CHKLIST ITEM AND PROPER RESPONSE, I BURIED MY HEAD DOWN INTO THE CHKLIST, MISTAKE #2. THE FO CALLED TO MY ATTN THE FACT I HAD CROSSED A HOLD LINE ON RWY 28, FOR RWY 23L, MISTAKE #3. THE RADIO WAS QUIET AND WE DISCOVERED THE FREQ MISPLACED 1 DIGIT. COMING UP ON CORRECT FREQ THE TWR CHIDED US FOR XING THE HOLD LINE. ANOTHER ACR WAS LNDG! WE WERE THEN CLRED TO CROSS RWY 23L AND TKOF ON RWY 23R. THE MAIN PROB WAS MY HEAD WAS DOWN REVIEWING A CHALLENGE AND RESPONSE ITEM ON OUR COMPANY CHKLIST. 2 WKS AGO I HAD BEEN TOLD BY A COMPANY CHK AIRMAN THAT MY RESPONSE WAS WRONG ON AN APCH ITEM. THE SAME ITEM WAS ON THE 'BEFORE TKOF' CHKLIST. THIS INTERNAL DISCREPANCY LED TO MY ATTN BEING DIVERTED AND XING THE HOLD LINE. ONE OTHER POINT. I HAVE NOTICED IN THE PAST THAT THE AIRPLANE FLOW BY GND CTL AT CLE IS TO PUT YOU ON THE RWY 28 AT TXWY U, HOLD SHORT OF TXWY J, OR THE HOLD SHORT LINE OF RWY 23L PAINTED ON RWY 28, CONTACT TWR THERE. THIS ALL SEEMED LIKE A 'BASTARDIZED' FLOW WITH CONFUSING MARKINGS ON RWY 28. I PERSONALLY THINK THIS IS NOT GOOD AND WILL LEAD TO FURTHER TROUBLE. GRANTED, I WAS AT FAULT WITH MY HEAD DOWN, BUT IT IS THESE CONFUSING 'COFFIN CORNERS' WHERE 'MURPHEE' LIVES. BEWARE! IF I FIND THIS PROC 'OUT OF THE NORM' WITH NEARLY 12000 HRS, THERE ARE OTHERS. THAT INTXN OF RWY 28, RWY 23L, TXWY J, AND A HOLD LINE ON THE RWY IS ASKING FOR TROUBLE.

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.