MD88 aircraft taxiing at cle, flight crew became confused about taxi clearance and requested progres...

Attributes
ACN	384991
Time
Date	199711
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cle
State Reference	OH
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	384991
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

At cle holding short of runway 23L at taxiway west, we were instructed to cross runway 23L on taxiway west, back taxi into position and hold on runway 23R. After crossing runway 23L, we became confused due to poor runway/taxiway markings and had to ask for further clarification. We were told to taxi west, south, runway 10/28 to runway 23L. We became further confused trying to find taxiway south and runway 10/28. The captain stopped the aircraft and requested a progressive taxi. As we followed the controller's instructions and approached runway 23R on runway 10/28, we observed an aircraft on final approach. Being unsure if he was landing runway 23R or runway 23L, we stopped short of runway 23R. The landing traffic was now approaching the overrun and clearly landing on runway 23R. We understood our clearance to still be position and hold on runway 23R, since this was not specifically deleted nor were we given instructions to hold short until we notified tower we were holding short just prior to other aircraft's landing on runway 23R. This is first time I have ever needed to request progressive taxi in 6 yrs with this carrier, and the first time I've seen a plane land right in front of me with clearance into position and hold. In addition, I have flown to cle frequently, and prior to this, was pretty comfortable with the layout and associated problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 ACFT TAXIING AT CLE, FLC BECAME CONFUSED ABOUT TAXI CLRNC AND REQUESTED PROGRESSIVE GUIDANCE. WHEN APCHING RWY 23, WHERE THE FLC HAD BEEN CLRED INTO POS, THEY STOPPED WHEN SEEING AN ACFT ON FINAL APCH FOR THAT RWY.

Narrative: AT CLE HOLDING SHORT OF RWY 23L AT TXWY W, WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CROSS RWY 23L ON TXWY W, BACK TAXI INTO POS AND HOLD ON RWY 23R. AFTER XING RWY 23L, WE BECAME CONFUSED DUE TO POOR RWY/TXWY MARKINGS AND HAD TO ASK FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION. WE WERE TOLD TO TAXI W, S, RWY 10/28 TO RWY 23L. WE BECAME FURTHER CONFUSED TRYING TO FIND TXWY S AND RWY 10/28. THE CAPT STOPPED THE ACFT AND REQUESTED A PROGRESSIVE TAXI. AS WE FOLLOWED THE CTLR'S INSTRUCTIONS AND APCHED RWY 23R ON RWY 10/28, WE OBSERVED AN ACFT ON FINAL APCH. BEING UNSURE IF HE WAS LNDG RWY 23R OR RWY 23L, WE STOPPED SHORT OF RWY 23R. THE LNDG TFC WAS NOW APCHING THE OVERRUN AND CLRLY LNDG ON RWY 23R. WE UNDERSTOOD OUR CLRNC TO STILL BE POS AND HOLD ON RWY 23R, SINCE THIS WAS NOT SPECIFICALLY DELETED NOR WERE WE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO HOLD SHORT UNTIL WE NOTIFIED TWR WE WERE HOLDING SHORT JUST PRIOR TO OTHER ACFT'S LNDG ON RWY 23R. THIS IS FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER NEEDED TO REQUEST PROGRESSIVE TAXI IN 6 YRS WITH THIS CARRIER, AND THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN A PLANE LAND RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME WITH CLRNC INTO POS AND HOLD. IN ADDITION, I HAVE FLOWN TO CLE FREQUENTLY, AND PRIOR TO THIS, WAS PRETTY COMFORTABLE WITH THE LAYOUT AND ASSOCIATED PROBS.

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.

MD88 aircraft taxiing at cle, flight crew became confused about taxi clearance and requested progressive guidance. When approaching runway 23, where the flight crew had been cleared into position, they stopped when seeing an aircraft on final approach for that runway.