Narrative:

Upon calling for clearance to taxi, we were given the instructions to 'taxi to runway 4.' we began to taxi out from the gate with the intent of staying on the terminal ramp all the way. However, when we came around the corner, another aircraft was blocking the terminal ramp so we chose to exit the ramp at taxiway G and taxi up to taxiway east to taxiway F in order to get to runway 4. Before we exited the ramp, the captain asked whether I thought it was ok to go that way. I told him that our instructions were only to 'taxi to runway 4' and that I understood that gave us clearance to get there anyway we wanted. Recognizing that we were at all times within blue taxiway lights also gave us confidence that we were ok. 1/2 way between taxiway G and taxiway F on taxiway F, we saw a DC3's landing lights as he turned final for runway 8. At that time, ground asked who was on taxiway F. We let him know that it was us and he told the DC3 to go around. We returned to the ramp at taxiway F and continued to runway 4. The tower gave us a number to call after takeoff. The captain called when we arrived in phx and was told there was no problem with what we had done. Supplemental information from acn 530780: after takeoff, departure gave us a phone number to call. We discussed the problem and he said there was no loss of separation. He also said he was in elp for 13 yrs, and the markings and descriptions on charts have always been a problem in that area.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B733 CREW, DURING TAXI FOR TKOF AT ELP, ENTERED THE OVERRUN OF AN ACTIVE RWY.

Narrative: UPON CALLING FOR CLRNC TO TAXI, WE WERE GIVEN THE INSTRUCTIONS TO 'TAXI TO RWY 4.' WE BEGAN TO TAXI OUT FROM THE GATE WITH THE INTENT OF STAYING ON THE TERMINAL RAMP ALL THE WAY. HOWEVER, WHEN WE CAME AROUND THE CORNER, ANOTHER ACFT WAS BLOCKING THE TERMINAL RAMP SO WE CHOSE TO EXIT THE RAMP AT TXWY G AND TAXI UP TO TXWY E TO TXWY F IN ORDER TO GET TO RWY 4. BEFORE WE EXITED THE RAMP, THE CAPT ASKED WHETHER I THOUGHT IT WAS OK TO GO THAT WAY. I TOLD HIM THAT OUR INSTRUCTIONS WERE ONLY TO 'TAXI TO RWY 4' AND THAT I UNDERSTOOD THAT GAVE US CLRNC TO GET THERE ANYWAY WE WANTED. RECOGNIZING THAT WE WERE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN BLUE TXWY LIGHTS ALSO GAVE US CONFIDENCE THAT WE WERE OK. 1/2 WAY BTWN TXWY G AND TXWY F ON TXWY F, WE SAW A DC3'S LNDG LIGHTS AS HE TURNED FINAL FOR RWY 8. AT THAT TIME, GND ASKED WHO WAS ON TXWY F. WE LET HIM KNOW THAT IT WAS US AND HE TOLD THE DC3 TO GO AROUND. WE RETURNED TO THE RAMP AT TXWY F AND CONTINUED TO RWY 4. THE TWR GAVE US A NUMBER TO CALL AFTER TKOF. THE CAPT CALLED WHEN WE ARRIVED IN PHX AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROB WITH WHAT WE HAD DONE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 530780: AFTER TKOF, DEP GAVE US A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL. WE DISCUSSED THE PROB AND HE SAID THERE WAS NO LOSS OF SEPARATION. HE ALSO SAID HE WAS IN ELP FOR 13 YRS, AND THE MARKINGS AND DESCRIPTIONS ON CHARTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PROB IN THAT AREA.

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.