Pilot confused about taxi instructions, enters active runway.

Attributes
ACN	544687
Time
Date	200204
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pdk.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 G Statesman
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : pdk.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 11.1 flight time total : 269 flight time type : 244
ASRS Report	544687
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe incursion : runway non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On engine start, I contacted pdk ground for taxi instructions. Ground answered, 'mooney XXX?; I repeated the call and added 'mooney XXXX at ramp to taxi for a northeast VFR departure.' I believed at the time that ground answered, 'mooney XXXX taxi to runway 2R,' perhaps because I had observed the traffic using runway 2R and runway 2L previously and a north/east departure would favor runway 2. Full taxi (taxi to runway xx via taxiway C, left to taxiway a, right on taxiway G) instructions were not given nor asked for. As I slowly approached the intersection of taxiway C and runway 20R/2L, I observed an aircraft on the far end of runway 20R, moving in a direction as to cross the runway. I assumed that this aircraft was moving from runway 2R after landing via taxiway G. Upon crossing the runway clear onto runway 20R/2L, ground called urgently, 'mooney XXXX stop immediately.' followed by, 'mooney XXXX expedite immediate right turn and taxi via runway 27 and execute another right turn to ramp.' this was accomplished without delay. The aircraft previously observed was still crossing at the far end of runway 20R. I observed no other traffic. The only other transmission from ground was to ask, 'do you need further progressives?' while I had paused on taxiway a at the intersection of runway 16/34. I acknowledged, 'no, not required.' I had since heard other aircraft being directed to runway 20R or runway 20L, so I then knew that the traffic pattern had turned around' since I had last seen a departure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT CONFUSED ABOUT TAXI INSTRUCTIONS, ENTERS ACTIVE RWY.

Narrative: ON ENG START, I CONTACTED PDK GND FOR TAXI INSTRUCTIONS. GND ANSWERED, 'MOONEY XXX?; I REPEATED THE CALL AND ADDED 'MOONEY XXXX AT RAMP TO TAXI FOR A NE VFR DEP.' I BELIEVED AT THE TIME THAT GND ANSWERED, 'MOONEY XXXX TAXI TO RWY 2R,' PERHAPS BECAUSE I HAD OBSERVED THE TFC USING RWY 2R AND RWY 2L PREVIOUSLY AND A N/E DEP WOULD FAVOR RWY 2. FULL TAXI (TAXI TO RWY XX VIA TXWY C, L TO TXWY A, R ON TXWY G) INSTRUCTIONS WERE NOT GIVEN NOR ASKED FOR. AS I SLOWLY APCHED THE INTXN OF TXWY C AND RWY 20R/2L, I OBSERVED AN ACFT ON THE FAR END OF RWY 20R, MOVING IN A DIRECTION AS TO CROSS THE RWY. I ASSUMED THAT THIS ACFT WAS MOVING FROM RWY 2R AFTER LNDG VIA TXWY G. UPON XING THE RWY CLR ONTO RWY 20R/2L, GND CALLED URGENTLY, 'MOONEY XXXX STOP IMMEDIATELY.' FOLLOWED BY, 'MOONEY XXXX EXPEDITE IMMEDIATE R TURN AND TAXI VIA RWY 27 AND EXECUTE ANOTHER R TURN TO RAMP.' THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT DELAY. THE ACFT PREVIOUSLY OBSERVED WAS STILL XING AT THE FAR END OF RWY 20R. I OBSERVED NO OTHER TFC. THE ONLY OTHER XMISSION FROM GND WAS TO ASK, 'DO YOU NEED FURTHER PROGRESSIVES?' WHILE I HAD PAUSED ON TXWY A AT THE INTXN OF RWY 16/34. I ACKNOWLEDGED, 'NO, NOT REQUIRED.' I HAD SINCE HEARD OTHER ACFT BEING DIRECTED TO RWY 20R OR RWY 20L, SO I THEN KNEW THAT THE TFC PATTERN HAD TURNED AROUND' SINCE I HAD LAST SEEN A DEP.

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.