C177 pilot taxied across an active runway without specific clearance.

Attributes
ACN	495959
Time
Date	200012
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : spg.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : tol.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cardinal 177/177RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 86 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	495959
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : far non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After getting my IFR clearance, ground control instructed me to taxi to runway 6. The run-up area at runway 6 at the albert whitted airport (spg) is across from the parking area. I thought that I was cleared to the run-up area and crossed the runway without a specific clearance to do so. Being unfamiliar with the field, I had the feeling that I should call and confirm that it was ok to cross runway 6, however, because I was under the impression that I had been cleared to the run-up area failed to do so. Although this has never happened to me before, it has served to remind me of how important it is to clarify any instruction or clearance of which you are unsure. I realize how serious the potential for an accident was in this situation, and am very thankful that one did not occur. This incident also serves to illustrate how important it is to read back all clrncs so that both the pilot and controller have the same expectation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C177 PLT TAXIED ACROSS AN ACTIVE RWY WITHOUT SPECIFIC CLRNC.

Narrative: AFTER GETTING MY IFR CLRNC, GND CTL INSTRUCTED ME TO TAXI TO RWY 6. THE RUN-UP AREA AT RWY 6 AT THE ALBERT WHITTED ARPT (SPG) IS ACROSS FROM THE PARKING AREA. I THOUGHT THAT I WAS CLRED TO THE RUN-UP AREA AND CROSSED THE RWY WITHOUT A SPECIFIC CLRNC TO DO SO. BEING UNFAMILIAR WITH THE FIELD, I HAD THE FEELING THAT I SHOULD CALL AND CONFIRM THAT IT WAS OK TO CROSS RWY 6, HOWEVER, BECAUSE I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT I HAD BEEN CLRED TO THE RUN-UP AREA FAILED TO DO SO. ALTHOUGH THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE, IT HAS SERVED TO REMIND ME OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO CLARIFY ANY INSTRUCTION OR CLRNC OF WHICH YOU ARE UNSURE. I REALIZE HOW SERIOUS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT WAS IN THIS SIT, AND AM VERY THANKFUL THAT ONE DID NOT OCCUR. THIS INCIDENT ALSO SERVES TO ILLUSTRATE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO READ BACK ALL CLRNCS SO THAT BOTH THE PLT AND CTLR HAVE THE SAME EXPECTATION.

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.