An air carrier flight crew taxied onto runway after being cleared to do so, but it was at the wrong ...

Attributes
ACN	571937
Time
Date	200301
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tpa.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	571937
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	571938
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe incursion : runway incursion : taxiway non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

We were cleared for takeoff on runway 36L at tpa at intersection W2. We asked the controller if we were indeed at intersection W2. We were then taxiing into position when we both realized it was not intersection W2. We subsequently taxied off and returned for takeoff uneventfully. We were taken by surprise by the clearance, because there was an opposite taxiing aircraft nearby which took away our attention. Then we asked the controller our exact location and we did not get a response. I should have just stopped right there and then asked for further assistance. I did have my chart out, but with it being dark, it took longer to orient myself with the map and by that time, the controller had cleared us again and we were over the line. As a result, we taxied off without incident. Supplemental information from acn 571938: we were not at the right intersection. Tower confirmed this and apologized for the misunderstanding. Contributing factors included darkness and an unfamiliar taxi routing due to the construction. I could have been more assertive with my concerns. I contemplated applying the brakes as we entered the runway, but decided the situation didn't warrant the dangers of an abrupt stop, as we had been cleared on the runway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR FLT CREW TAXIED ONTO RWY AFTER BEING CLRED TO DO SO, BUT IT WAS AT THE WRONG TXWY.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED FOR TKOF ON RWY 36L AT TPA AT INTXN W2. WE ASKED THE CTLR IF WE WERE INDEED AT INTXN W2. WE WERE THEN TAXIING INTO POS WHEN WE BOTH REALIZED IT WAS NOT INTXN W2. WE SUBSEQUENTLY TAXIED OFF AND RETURNED FOR TKOF UNEVENTFULLY. WE WERE TAKEN BY SURPRISE BY THE CLRNC, BECAUSE THERE WAS AN OPPOSITE TAXIING ACFT NEARBY WHICH TOOK AWAY OUR ATTN. THEN WE ASKED THE CTLR OUR EXACT LOCATION AND WE DID NOT GET A RESPONSE. I SHOULD HAVE JUST STOPPED RIGHT THERE AND THEN ASKED FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. I DID HAVE MY CHART OUT, BUT WITH IT BEING DARK, IT TOOK LONGER TO ORIENT MYSELF WITH THE MAP AND BY THAT TIME, THE CTLR HAD CLRED US AGAIN AND WE WERE OVER THE LINE. AS A RESULT, WE TAXIED OFF WITHOUT INCIDENT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 571938: WE WERE NOT AT THE RIGHT INTXN. TWR CONFIRMED THIS AND APOLOGIZED FOR THE MISUNDERSTANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDED DARKNESS AND AN UNFAMILIAR TAXI ROUTING DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION. I COULD HAVE BEEN MORE ASSERTIVE WITH MY CONCERNS. I CONTEMPLATED APPLYING THE BRAKES AS WE ENTERED THE RWY, BUT DECIDED THE SIT DIDN'T WARRANT THE DANGERS OF AN ABRUPT STOP, AS WE HAD BEEN CLRED ON THE RWY.

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.

An air carrier flight crew taxied onto runway after being cleared to do so, but it was at the wrong taxiway.