Narrative:

Pushed back from gate at XA18 (still dark). Takeoff runway assignment changed 3 times in next couple of mins. First, 'taxiway C3, taxiway C, taxiway north, runway 14.' next, taxiway D3, taxiway east, runway 28C. Finally, taxiway D3, taxiway west, runway 10C. Taxied south and exited ramp at taxiway D3, east on taxiway east, south on taxiway west. While taxiing south on taxiway west, ground control called and said 'you just passed runway 10C.' first officer asked if we could make a 180 degree on taxiway west. Ground control replied 'if you want to get back to the runway' or something to that effect. I made a 180 degree on taxiway west at intersection wf, taxied back north on taxiway west too short of runway 10C. I stopped and the first officer and I discussed the incident. The first officer then told the tower we were ready and tower cleared us for takeoff on runway 10C. Nothing more was said by the tower. Factors: takeoff runway changes, unfamiliar airport, darkness. Also, taxing south on taxiway west, approaching runway 10C, I did not see the usual red/white 'runway 10C' signs nor did I see pulsing amber lights indicating a runway. Either or both may be there, but I didn't see them. After passing runway 10C, making a 180 degree on taxiway west and taxiing back north to runway 10C, there were 1 red/white 'runway 10C' signs, flashing amber lights and painted 'hold short' lines on taxiway west approaching runway 10C. I still don't recall seeing any markings identing runway 10C taxiing south on taxiway west approaching runway 10C. Not being familiar with pit, I found it confusing trying to find the approach end of runway 10C. As stated previously, taxiing south on taxiway west I did not see any markings that I was approaching runway 10C. On the contrary, looking at the displaced runway 10C threshold (pit 20-9 page) I saw only blue taxiway lights. Blue taxiway lights run n-s on taxiway west, and from taxiway west to the end of where runway 10C actually begins. We talked about asking ground control if we should 'give them a call' on the land line to discuss the situation. I decided not to ask primarily because of the ground controller's sarcastic attitude and tone. I realize I may have made a runway incursion (I'm still not sure if that was the case taking into consideration the taxiway west/runway 10C confign) but decided the ground controller wasn't interested and was not the least bit helpful. Opinion: the taxiway west/runway 10C intersection (lighting-marking at night) are not prominent enough. Printing on the 20-9 page in the area of the taxiway west/runway 10C intersection is obscure.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A TAXIING B737-500 PASSES THE END OF RWY 10C WITHOUT PROPER COORD OR AUTH FROM PIT GND CTLR.

Narrative: PUSHED BACK FROM GATE AT XA18 (STILL DARK). TKOF RWY ASSIGNMENT CHANGED 3 TIMES IN NEXT COUPLE OF MINS. FIRST, 'TXWY C3, TXWY C, TXWY N, RWY 14.' NEXT, TXWY D3, TXWY E, RWY 28C. FINALLY, TXWY D3, TXWY W, RWY 10C. TAXIED S AND EXITED RAMP AT TXWY D3, E ON TXWY E, S ON TXWY W. WHILE TAXIING S ON TXWY W, GND CTL CALLED AND SAID 'YOU JUST PASSED RWY 10C.' FO ASKED IF WE COULD MAKE A 180 DEG ON TXWY W. GND CTL REPLIED 'IF YOU WANT TO GET BACK TO THE RWY' OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. I MADE A 180 DEG ON TXWY W AT INTXN WF, TAXIED BACK N ON TXWY W TOO SHORT OF RWY 10C. I STOPPED AND THE FO AND I DISCUSSED THE INCIDENT. THE FO THEN TOLD THE TWR WE WERE READY AND TWR CLRED US FOR TKOF ON RWY 10C. NOTHING MORE WAS SAID BY THE TWR. FACTORS: TKOF RWY CHANGES, UNFAMILIAR ARPT, DARKNESS. ALSO, TAXING S ON TXWY W, APCHING RWY 10C, I DID NOT SEE THE USUAL RED/WHITE 'RWY 10C' SIGNS NOR DID I SEE PULSING AMBER LIGHTS INDICATING A RWY. EITHER OR BOTH MAY BE THERE, BUT I DIDN'T SEE THEM. AFTER PASSING RWY 10C, MAKING A 180 DEG ON TXWY W AND TAXIING BACK N TO RWY 10C, THERE WERE 1 RED/WHITE 'RWY 10C' SIGNS, FLASHING AMBER LIGHTS AND PAINTED 'HOLD SHORT' LINES ON TXWY W APCHING RWY 10C. I STILL DON'T RECALL SEEING ANY MARKINGS IDENTING RWY 10C TAXIING S ON TXWY W APCHING RWY 10C. NOT BEING FAMILIAR WITH PIT, I FOUND IT CONFUSING TRYING TO FIND THE APCH END OF RWY 10C. AS STATED PREVIOUSLY, TAXIING S ON TXWY W I DID NOT SEE ANY MARKINGS THAT I WAS APCHING RWY 10C. ON THE CONTRARY, LOOKING AT THE DISPLACED RWY 10C THRESHOLD (PIT 20-9 PAGE) I SAW ONLY BLUE TXWY LIGHTS. BLUE TXWY LIGHTS RUN N-S ON TXWY W, AND FROM TXWY W TO THE END OF WHERE RWY 10C ACTUALLY BEGINS. WE TALKED ABOUT ASKING GND CTL IF WE SHOULD 'GIVE THEM A CALL' ON THE LAND LINE TO DISCUSS THE SIT. I DECIDED NOT TO ASK PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE GND CTLR'S SARCASTIC ATTITUDE AND TONE. I REALIZE I MAY HAVE MADE A RWY INCURSION (I'M STILL NOT SURE IF THAT WAS THE CASE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE TXWY W/RWY 10C CONFIGN) BUT DECIDED THE GND CTLR WASN'T INTERESTED AND WAS NOT THE LEAST BIT HELPFUL. OPINION: THE TXWY W/RWY 10C INTXN (LIGHTING-MARKING AT NIGHT) ARE NOT PROMINENT ENOUGH. PRINTING ON THE 20-9 PAGE IN THE AREA OF THE TXWY W/RWY 10C INTXN IS OBSCURE.

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.