Narrative:

As we called for our taxi instructions the ramp controller in clt changed our runway assignment from runway 18R to runway 18L. As we approached spot X and contacted ground control, we were instructed to taxi to runway 18L. This would require a left turn onto taxiway C. I mistakenly turned right onto taxiway C and proceeded to cross runway 23. An air carrier B737 had just landed on runway 23 prior to us crossing. After realizing my mistake, I stopped the aircraft after clearing runway 23. Upon calling ground to advise them of my mistake, we were given new instructions to taxi to runway 18L. The first officer and myself had each cleared left and right before I accidentally taxied across runway 23. The air carrier B737 was rolling out and I could not see any aircraft on final. During our taxi out I did not call for the taxi checklist until we were clear of the ramp area. After passing spot X, I called for the taxi checklist. The first officer was executing the checklist when I made the wrong turn. A cause which could have led to this mistake could be the diversion of attention to the taxi checklist before confirming our taxi route to runway 18L. In the future, I will confirm all taxi instructions with the first officer and make sure we are going to taxi via our instructions from ground control. When I am sure we are taxiing via the assigned route, I will then call for the taxi checklist. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: pilot stated that he had been into this airport 4 or 5 times previously and that he did not utilize an airport diagram to confirm his taxi route. Reporter could not recall if the first officer was very experienced or was familiar with this airport. Reporter stated that the B737 was near the end of his rollout and well past the point where he crossed the runway. Reporter stated that the distraction of the checklist was the primary cause for his error and that he has amended his procedure to confirm his clearance route and utilize an airport diagram prior to calling for the taxi checklist.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMB145 FLC TURNS WRONG DIRECTION ON TXWY AND CROSSES ACTIVE RWY.

Narrative: AS WE CALLED FOR OUR TAXI INSTRUCTIONS THE RAMP CTLR IN CLT CHANGED OUR RWY ASSIGNMENT FROM RWY 18R TO RWY 18L. AS WE APCHED SPOT X AND CONTACTED GND CTL, WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO TAXI TO RWY 18L. THIS WOULD REQUIRE A L TURN ONTO TXWY C. I MISTAKENLY TURNED R ONTO TXWY C AND PROCEEDED TO CROSS RWY 23. AN ACR B737 HAD JUST LANDED ON RWY 23 PRIOR TO US XING. AFTER REALIZING MY MISTAKE, I STOPPED THE ACFT AFTER CLRING RWY 23. UPON CALLING GND TO ADVISE THEM OF MY MISTAKE, WE WERE GIVEN NEW INSTRUCTIONS TO TAXI TO RWY 18L. THE FO AND MYSELF HAD EACH CLRED L AND R BEFORE I ACCIDENTALLY TAXIED ACROSS RWY 23. THE ACR B737 WAS ROLLING OUT AND I COULD NOT SEE ANY ACFT ON FINAL. DURING OUR TAXI OUT I DID NOT CALL FOR THE TAXI CHKLIST UNTIL WE WERE CLR OF THE RAMP AREA. AFTER PASSING SPOT X, I CALLED FOR THE TAXI CHKLIST. THE FO WAS EXECUTING THE CHKLIST WHEN I MADE THE WRONG TURN. A CAUSE WHICH COULD HAVE LED TO THIS MISTAKE COULD BE THE DIVERSION OF ATTN TO THE TAXI CHKLIST BEFORE CONFIRMING OUR TAXI RTE TO RWY 18L. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL CONFIRM ALL TAXI INSTRUCTIONS WITH THE FO AND MAKE SURE WE ARE GOING TO TAXI VIA OUR INSTRUCTIONS FROM GND CTL. WHEN I AM SURE WE ARE TAXIING VIA THE ASSIGNED RTE, I WILL THEN CALL FOR THE TAXI CHKLIST. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: PLT STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN INTO THIS ARPT 4 OR 5 TIMES PREVIOUSLY AND THAT HE DID NOT UTILIZE AN ARPT DIAGRAM TO CONFIRM HIS TAXI RTE. RPTR COULD NOT RECALL IF THE FO WAS VERY EXPERIENCED OR WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS ARPT. RPTR STATED THAT THE B737 WAS NEAR THE END OF HIS ROLLOUT AND WELL PAST THE POINT WHERE HE CROSSED THE RWY. RPTR STATED THAT THE DISTR OF THE CHKLIST WAS THE PRIMARY CAUSE FOR HIS ERROR AND THAT HE HAS AMENDED HIS PROC TO CONFIRM HIS CLRNC RTE AND UTILIZE AN ARPT DIAGRAM PRIOR TO CALLING FOR THE TAXI CHKLIST.

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.