Narrative:

IFR training flight. Prepping for ipc. Had flown ILS runway 19R at sna, landed, taxied clear on taxiway H, was in tower run-up area. Copied IFR clearance, and received taxi clearance to runway 19R via taxiway B. Tower then changed taxi clearance taxiway B to taxiway J, holding short runway 19R. I complied. Next, cleared to cross active runway 19R. Inactive runway 19L, left on taxiway C, to kilo, hold short runway 19L at kilo. I crossed runway 19R, and as I started across runway 19L, there were 2 B737's on taxiway awaiting taxi. Because I was in a small cessna 152 staring at 2 B737's ahead of me, I turned onto runway 19L, thinking it was taxiway C. I did not want to get too close to the B737's. After I had turned into runway 19L, and after going about 50 ft, I realized my mistake. I immediately turned around and was heading for taxiway J. At this point, the controller said what I had done, and said 'that's ok,' or words to that effect. There were no other aircraft on the runway, which appeared inactive. The controller told me to continue as previously instructed, and it was not a problem. It was at least momentarily confusing, due to the WX, slick pavement, trying to follow a rather 'circuitous' taxi route, which ATC did apologize for. We even had a taxi diagram out, but the B737's looked rather imposing/intimidating. Next time, I will take it a bit slower and check before turning at sna. Taxiway K is relatively close to taxiway C, and I do not go there regularly. It could happen to anyone. Lesson learned!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT ON IPC FLT ENTERED RWY AT SNA.

Narrative: IFR TRAINING FLT. PREPPING FOR IPC. HAD FLOWN ILS RWY 19R AT SNA, LANDED, TAXIED CLR ON TXWY H, WAS IN TWR RUN-UP AREA. COPIED IFR CLRNC, AND RECEIVED TAXI CLRNC TO RWY 19R VIA TXWY B. TWR THEN CHANGED TAXI CLRNC TXWY B TO TXWY J, HOLDING SHORT RWY 19R. I COMPLIED. NEXT, CLRED TO CROSS ACTIVE RWY 19R. INACTIVE RWY 19L, L ON TXWY C, TO KILO, HOLD SHORT RWY 19L AT KILO. I CROSSED RWY 19R, AND AS I STARTED ACROSS RWY 19L, THERE WERE 2 B737'S ON TXWY AWAITING TAXI. BECAUSE I WAS IN A SMALL CESSNA 152 STARING AT 2 B737'S AHEAD OF ME, I TURNED ONTO RWY 19L, THINKING IT WAS TXWY C. I DID NOT WANT TO GET TOO CLOSE TO THE B737'S. AFTER I HAD TURNED INTO RWY 19L, AND AFTER GOING ABOUT 50 FT, I REALIZED MY MISTAKE. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED AROUND AND WAS HEADING FOR TXWY J. AT THIS POINT, THE CTLR SAID WHAT I HAD DONE, AND SAID 'THAT'S OK,' OR WORDS TO THAT EFFECT. THERE WERE NO OTHER ACFT ON THE RWY, WHICH APPEARED INACTIVE. THE CTLR TOLD ME TO CONTINUE AS PREVIOUSLY INSTRUCTED, AND IT WAS NOT A PROB. IT WAS AT LEAST MOMENTARILY CONFUSING, DUE TO THE WX, SLICK PAVEMENT, TRYING TO FOLLOW A RATHER 'CIRCUITOUS' TAXI RTE, WHICH ATC DID APOLOGIZE FOR. WE EVEN HAD A TAXI DIAGRAM OUT, BUT THE B737'S LOOKED RATHER IMPOSING/INTIMIDATING. NEXT TIME, I WILL TAKE IT A BIT SLOWER AND CHK BEFORE TURNING AT SNA. TXWY K IS RELATIVELY CLOSE TO TXWY C, AND I DO NOT GO THERE REGULARLY. IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE. LESSON LEARNED!

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.