Narrative:

I did the VOR runway 30 approach into lgb and landed. I was cleared to exit runway 30 by going left or right on taxiway J, and then contact ground. I went left on taxiway J (facing west, or parallel to runway 25L) and contacted ground. Ground control cleared me to runway 25L at taxiway D, but they did not give me a hold short of runway 25L at taxiway D instruction. Ground control then told me to make a hard left onto taxiway D (facing parallel to and opposite of runway 30, almost perpendicular to runway 25L). I repeated the instruction to make a hard left onto taxiway D, along with the instruction to taxi to runway 25L at taxiway D. I knew I was crossing runway 25L. I thought I was allowed to cross runway 25L, so I looked both ways. There was no traffic so I crossed runway 25L on taxiway D, and proceeded to the run-up area on the other side, which was still runway 25L at taxiway D. I never left taxiway D, I just crossed runway 25L on taxiway D. Having not received a hold short instruction, I crossed runway 25L at taxiway D. The problem was discovered when I called ground control to inform them I was changing frequency in order to obtain my IFR clearance back home. Ground control asked me where I was. I told them, and they informed me that a possible pilot deviation had occurred. I believe the problem was caused by a misunderstanding between ground control and me. Taxiway D, taxiway F, runway 34R, and runway 25L all intersect at one point. I believe that the complexity of long beach airport also contributed to this situation. I don't believe I deviated from any instruction, I just did what I perceived to be correct. I don't believe that safety was jeopardized because I knew where I was, and I knew I was crossing a runway, and I looked for traffic before doing so. I did not deviate from a clearance intentionally. There was a misunderstanding on both parts as to what I was expected to do, and what I thought I was instructed to do. More clear instructions are needed, and when ground control does not want you to cross a runway, a hold short instruction should be given. Long beach is a large airport and can be very complicated to operate on. Care must be taken on all parts to avoid further such occurrences.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C152 PLT EXPERIENCED RWY INCURSION AT LGB.

Narrative: I DID THE VOR RWY 30 APCH INTO LGB AND LANDED. I WAS CLRED TO EXIT RWY 30 BY GOING L OR R ON TXWY J, AND THEN CONTACT GND. I WENT L ON TXWY J (FACING W, OR PARALLEL TO RWY 25L) AND CONTACTED GND. GND CTL CLRED ME TO RWY 25L AT TXWY D, BUT THEY DID NOT GIVE ME A HOLD SHORT OF RWY 25L AT TXWY D INSTRUCTION. GND CTL THEN TOLD ME TO MAKE A HARD L ONTO TXWY D (FACING PARALLEL TO AND OPPOSITE OF RWY 30, ALMOST PERPENDICULAR TO RWY 25L). I REPEATED THE INSTRUCTION TO MAKE A HARD L ONTO TXWY D, ALONG WITH THE INSTRUCTION TO TAXI TO RWY 25L AT TXWY D. I KNEW I WAS XING RWY 25L. I THOUGHT I WAS ALLOWED TO CROSS RWY 25L, SO I LOOKED BOTH WAYS. THERE WAS NO TFC SO I CROSSED RWY 25L ON TXWY D, AND PROCEEDED TO THE RUN-UP AREA ON THE OTHER SIDE, WHICH WAS STILL RWY 25L AT TXWY D. I NEVER LEFT TXWY D, I JUST CROSSED RWY 25L ON TXWY D. HAVING NOT RECEIVED A HOLD SHORT INSTRUCTION, I CROSSED RWY 25L AT TXWY D. THE PROB WAS DISCOVERED WHEN I CALLED GND CTL TO INFORM THEM I WAS CHANGING FREQ IN ORDER TO OBTAIN MY IFR CLRNC BACK HOME. GND CTL ASKED ME WHERE I WAS. I TOLD THEM, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT A POSSIBLE PLTDEV HAD OCCURRED. I BELIEVE THE PROB WAS CAUSED BY A MISUNDERSTANDING BTWN GND CTL AND ME. TXWY D, TXWY F, RWY 34R, AND RWY 25L ALL INTERSECT AT ONE POINT. I BELIEVE THAT THE COMPLEXITY OF LONG BEACH ARPT ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS SIT. I DON'T BELIEVE I DEVIATED FROM ANY INSTRUCTION, I JUST DID WHAT I PERCEIVED TO BE CORRECT. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT SAFETY WAS JEOPARDIZED BECAUSE I KNEW WHERE I WAS, AND I KNEW I WAS XING A RWY, AND I LOOKED FOR TFC BEFORE DOING SO. I DID NOT DEVIATE FROM A CLRNC INTENTIONALLY. THERE WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING ON BOTH PARTS AS TO WHAT I WAS EXPECTED TO DO, AND WHAT I THOUGHT I WAS INSTRUCTED TO DO. MORE CLR INSTRUCTIONS ARE NEEDED, AND WHEN GND CTL DOES NOT WANT YOU TO CROSS A RWY, A HOLD SHORT INSTRUCTION SHOULD BE GIVEN. LONG BEACH IS A LARGE ARPT AND CAN BE VERY COMPLICATED TO OPERATE ON. CARE MUST BE TAKEN ON ALL PARTS TO AVOID FURTHER SUCH OCCURRENCES.

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.