Narrative:

On return from my first flight to sjc, received progressive taxi instructions from ground control (east side of field) to runway 29 (west side). Taxied as instructed to runway 29 runup area. Was instructed to contact ground control after runup, which I did. Was then instructed to 'cross taxiway V to runway 29, and contact tower.' crossed taxiway V, but was not sure where to stop. Should I stop ahead of stop line to clear taxiway, or short of it? The words 'hold short' had not been used. Compromised by stopping on the line. Called tower, 'san jose tower, cherokee X ready for takeoff runway 29, IFR.' tower called back, 'X, hold short of runway 29.' 10 seconds later,, tower called, 'X, you appear to be in front of the stop line.' 2 other aircraft were sent around and I was instructed to taxi clear of runway and given a phone number to call for 'possible deviation.' spoke with senior controller, who confirmed that san jose ground does not use 'hold short' in taxi instructions for runway 29. Controller also understood my concern to pull up clear of taxiway V, as there was a jet on it behind me. In any future situation where I'm unsure of taxi instructions, I will stop and ask, but I also urge sjc ground to instruct pilots 'cross taxiway V to runway 29 and hold short.' I considered positioning my aircraft on the numbers, which would have been worse -- and sooner or later someone else will do so!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT OF A PA28, FAILED TO STOP SHORT BEHIND THE RWY HOLD SHORT LINE CAUSING TWR CTLR TO SEND 2 OTHER ACFT AROUND.

Narrative: ON RETURN FROM MY FIRST FLT TO SJC, RECEIVED PROGRESSIVE TAXI INSTRUCTIONS FROM GND CTL (E SIDE OF FIELD) TO RWY 29 (W SIDE). TAXIED AS INSTRUCTED TO RWY 29 RUNUP AREA. WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT GND CTL AFTER RUNUP, WHICH I DID. WAS THEN INSTRUCTED TO 'CROSS TXWY V TO RWY 29, AND CONTACT TWR.' CROSSED TXWY V, BUT WAS NOT SURE WHERE TO STOP. SHOULD I STOP AHEAD OF STOP LINE TO CLR TXWY, OR SHORT OF IT? THE WORDS 'HOLD SHORT' HAD NOT BEEN USED. COMPROMISED BY STOPPING ON THE LINE. CALLED TWR, 'SAN JOSE TWR, CHEROKEE X READY FOR TKOF RWY 29, IFR.' TWR CALLED BACK, 'X, HOLD SHORT OF RWY 29.' 10 SECONDS LATER,, TWR CALLED, 'X, YOU APPEAR TO BE IN FRONT OF THE STOP LINE.' 2 OTHER ACFT WERE SENT AROUND AND I WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAXI CLR OF RWY AND GIVEN A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL FOR 'POSSIBLE DEV.' SPOKE WITH SENIOR CTLR, WHO CONFIRMED THAT SAN JOSE GND DOES NOT USE 'HOLD SHORT' IN TAXI INSTRUCTIONS FOR RWY 29. CTLR ALSO UNDERSTOOD MY CONCERN TO PULL UP CLR OF TXWY V, AS THERE WAS A JET ON IT BEHIND ME. IN ANY FUTURE SIT WHERE I'M UNSURE OF TAXI INSTRUCTIONS, I WILL STOP AND ASK, BUT I ALSO URGE SJC GND TO INSTRUCT PLTS 'CROSS TXWY V TO RWY 29 AND HOLD SHORT.' I CONSIDERED POSITIONING MY ACFT ON THE NUMBERS, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE -- AND SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE ELSE WILL DO SO!

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.