Narrative:

Atl ground control instructed us to taxi to runway 8R for departure via taxiway east. Leaving spot X, the captain called for 'flaps 20 degrees, taxi checklist.' being the first officer and knowing that the captain was familiar with the airport layout and taxi to the runway. This was previously discussed on inbound flight, as well as on the departure briefing. As I was running the checklist, the captain had already turned on to taxiway F and began the taxi. I was unaware of the deviation until the captain said 'oops,' and let me know that he had turned onto taxiway F. I stopped the checklist, helped coordinate with captain and ATC (ground control) regarding our position, intent to step over to taxiway east, and continue to runway 8R. The error was due to nighttime taxi at a large airport and distraction of oncoming A319 entering ramp. As we left the ramp, we were hurrying out of the ramp to avoid the oncoming airbus. The captain and myself (first officer) are aware of the deviation and made efforts to correct so as not to cause any incursions. We cooperated with atl ground once we discovered the mistake.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CL65 CAPT MISTAKENLY TURNED ONTO WRONG TXWY DURING TAXI OUT DUE TO DISTR OF ONCOMING TFC AND NIGHTTIME LIGHTING CONDITIONS.

Narrative: ATL GND CTL INSTRUCTED US TO TAXI TO RWY 8R FOR DEP VIA TXWY E. LEAVING SPOT X, THE CAPT CALLED FOR 'FLAPS 20 DEGS, TAXI CHKLIST.' BEING THE FO AND KNOWING THAT THE CAPT WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT LAYOUT AND TAXI TO THE RWY. THIS WAS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED ON INBOUND FLT, AS WELL AS ON THE DEP BRIEFING. AS I WAS RUNNING THE CHKLIST, THE CAPT HAD ALREADY TURNED ON TO TXWY F AND BEGAN THE TAXI. I WAS UNAWARE OF THE DEV UNTIL THE CAPT SAID 'OOPS,' AND LET ME KNOW THAT HE HAD TURNED ONTO TXWY F. I STOPPED THE CHKLIST, HELPED COORDINATE WITH CAPT AND ATC (GND CTL) REGARDING OUR POS, INTENT TO STEP OVER TO TXWY E, AND CONTINUE TO RWY 8R. THE ERROR WAS DUE TO NIGHTTIME TAXI AT A LARGE ARPT AND DISTR OF ONCOMING A319 ENTERING RAMP. AS WE LEFT THE RAMP, WE WERE HURRYING OUT OF THE RAMP TO AVOID THE ONCOMING AIRBUS. THE CAPT AND MYSELF (FO) ARE AWARE OF THE DEV AND MADE EFFORTS TO CORRECT SO AS NOT TO CAUSE ANY INCURSIONS. WE COOPERATED WITH ATL GND ONCE WE DISCOVERED THE MISTAKE.

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.