Narrative:

After a short delay on the ramp waiting for ATC release, we were cleared to taxi to runway 12R. We made a left turn onto what appeared to be taxiway G -- the parallel to runway 12R. We then approached a taxiway sign G with 2 arrows with a choice of bearing left or right. Since I thought we were already on taxiway G, I elected to continue straight ahead on the left taxiway G arrow. It seemed that the right option would have led from taxiway G to the runway. Soon after, I suspected we were on the wrong taxiway. At about that time the controller said, 'turn right and transition to taxiway G.' with ground assistance, we turned right and proceeded on taxiway G without further incident. As it turned out, we were on taxiway H, which prohibits aircraft of our size from using it. In hindsight, I should have stopped when I was confronted with an ambiguous taxi sign, and asked ground for clarification.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A SUPER MD80 FAILED TO FOLLOW ASSIGNED TXWY RTE OUT TO RWY RESULTING IN TAXIING ON A WT RESTR TXWY AND THE ASSISTANCE OF ARPT GND PERSONNEL TO HELP GUIDE HIM AROUND TIGHT TXWY CORNERS TO THE ASSIGNED TXWY.

Narrative: AFTER A SHORT DELAY ON THE RAMP WAITING FOR ATC RELEASE, WE WERE CLRED TO TAXI TO RWY 12R. WE MADE A L TURN ONTO WHAT APPEARED TO BE TXWY G -- THE PARALLEL TO RWY 12R. WE THEN APCHED A TXWY SIGN G WITH 2 ARROWS WITH A CHOICE OF BEARING L OR R. SINCE I THOUGHT WE WERE ALREADY ON TXWY G, I ELECTED TO CONTINUE STRAIGHT AHEAD ON THE L TXWY G ARROW. IT SEEMED THAT THE R OPTION WOULD HAVE LED FROM TXWY G TO THE RWY. SOON AFTER, I SUSPECTED WE WERE ON THE WRONG TXWY. AT ABOUT THAT TIME THE CTLR SAID, 'TURN R AND TRANSITION TO TXWY G.' WITH GND ASSISTANCE, WE TURNED R AND PROCEEDED ON TXWY G WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. AS IT TURNED OUT, WE WERE ON TXWY H, WHICH PROHIBITS ACFT OF OUR SIZE FROM USING IT. IN HINDSIGHT, I SHOULD HAVE STOPPED WHEN I WAS CONFRONTED WITH AN AMBIGUOUS TAXI SIGN, AND ASKED GND FOR CLARIFICATION.

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.