A C172 pilot taxied across an active runway without a clearance.

Attributes
ACN	442340
Time
Date	199907
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lwm.airport
State Reference	MA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lwm.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 8 flight time total : 260 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	442360
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	controller : ground
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Runway 32 was in use. While taxiing from ramp (adjacent to tower) on taxiway parallel to runway 5/23, I failed to turn right before crossing runway 32/14, the active runway. There was no traffic conflict, and when the tower advised me of the error, I apologized, explaining that I was accustomed to traveling all the way to the end of runway 23, which is the more frequently used runway. 'Force of habit' was one factor, but a contributing factor was distraction caused by my passenger's inoperative headset, and passenger's distraction by an unusual sound the aircraft was making, which she could hear because her headset was inoperative.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 PLT TAXIED ACROSS AN ACTIVE RWY WITHOUT A CLRNC.

Narrative: RWY 32 WAS IN USE. WHILE TAXIING FROM RAMP (ADJACENT TO TWR) ON TXWY PARALLEL TO RWY 5/23, I FAILED TO TURN R BEFORE XING RWY 32/14, THE ACTIVE RWY. THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT, AND WHEN THE TWR ADVISED ME OF THE ERROR, I APOLOGIZED, EXPLAINING THAT I WAS ACCUSTOMED TO TRAVELING ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF RWY 23, WHICH IS THE MORE FREQUENTLY USED RWY. 'FORCE OF HABIT' WAS ONE FACTOR, BUT A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS DISTR CAUSED BY MY PAX'S INOP HEADSET, AND PAX'S DISTR BY AN UNUSUAL SOUND THE ACFT WAS MAKING, WHICH SHE COULD HEAR BECAUSE HER HEADSET WAS INOP.

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.