Narrative:

Upon landing rollout, runway exit instructions issued by tower after flying, pilot was committed to exiting via a different exit throat. Tower instructed us to taxi back out and proceed to the desired runway exit using very ambiguous and nonstandard phraseology. (Eg, no aircraft call sign, did not clear us onto active runway and confusing instructions.) we remained in position until we were cleared by tower to use active runway. Tower issued go around instructions to 2 in-trail aircraft for that runway. This was a busy evening and I believe the tower controller felt we could comply with his instructions (on rollout). Also, the PF was not aware of instructions until we were off the runway. I do not feel this is a recurrent problem, but it is an isolated incident most likely.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER LNDG AT EWR, CREW WAS UNABLE TO COMPLY WITH EXIT INSTRUCTIONS.

Narrative: UPON LNDG ROLLOUT, RWY EXIT INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY TWR AFTER FLYING, PLT WAS COMMITTED TO EXITING VIA A DIFFERENT EXIT THROAT. TWR INSTRUCTED US TO TAXI BACK OUT AND PROCEED TO THE DESIRED RWY EXIT USING VERY AMBIGUOUS AND NONSTANDARD PHRASEOLOGY. (EG, NO ACFT CALL SIGN, DID NOT CLR US ONTO ACTIVE RWY AND CONFUSING INSTRUCTIONS.) WE REMAINED IN POS UNTIL WE WERE CLRED BY TWR TO USE ACTIVE RWY. TWR ISSUED GAR INSTRUCTIONS TO 2 IN-TRAIL ACFT FOR THAT RWY. THIS WAS A BUSY EVENING AND I BELIEVE THE TWR CTLR FELT WE COULD COMPLY WITH HIS INSTRUCTIONS (ON ROLLOUT). ALSO, THE PF WAS NOT AWARE OF INSTRUCTIONS UNTIL WE WERE OFF THE RWY. I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS A RECURRENT PROB, BUT IT IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT MOST LIKELY.

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.