Narrative:

After landing on runway 25R at phx and exiting the runway at E6; we were cleared via E-D10-D. E6 corresponds with D6. We passed D7 (corresponds with E7); D8 (which corresponds with E8); D9 (which corresponds with E9); and made a turn on what I thought was D10 (which; of course; does not correspond with E10). I had; in fact; turned north on taxiway south and was about to turn east on taxiway D when ground control called and said; 'you're not turning there; are you?' I stopped the aircraft as he explained that he believed that the portion of taxiway D between taxiway south and D10 was closed. As it turned out; after he contacted the city; it was not closed and we continued on to the gate without further incident. This situation got me to thinking; however; as to what might have happened if that taxiway was indeed closed! Could I have ingested a barricade? Bent a nose gear? Or worse; injured a construction worker? The problem is; that I was easily baited into thinking that taxiway south was D10 as it corresponded with E10. D10; however; corresponds directly with E11 of all things! On top of that; the signage showing you are on taxiway south is way to the north of taxiway D. Normally; I make a mental note to not do the obvious and turn where it seems like I should and count one unmarked taxiway before turning into the ramp at D10. Nevertheless; after a 6-LEG day; even that system failed this time and after 11+ yrs of operating at this airport; I made the turn one taxiway too early. My guess is that if it happened to me (and my first officer who was heads up at the time and sounded no complaint) it has probably happened before to other pilots and is likely to happen again. Perhaps better signage and/or renaming that taxiway to taxiway es or taxiway ds so that the numbered txwys stay in sequence might make more sense. 9 times out of 10 it would probably turn out as it did and be no big deal. However; that 1 time out of 10 is what scares me!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-700 FLT CREW TURNS AT WRONG INTXN DURING TAXI AFTER LNDG AND ENCOUNTERS A CONSTRUCTION AREA.

Narrative: AFTER LNDG ON RWY 25R AT PHX AND EXITING THE RWY AT E6; WE WERE CLRED VIA E-D10-D. E6 CORRESPONDS WITH D6. WE PASSED D7 (CORRESPONDS WITH E7); D8 (WHICH CORRESPONDS WITH E8); D9 (WHICH CORRESPONDS WITH E9); AND MADE A TURN ON WHAT I THOUGHT WAS D10 (WHICH; OF COURSE; DOES NOT CORRESPOND WITH E10). I HAD; IN FACT; TURNED N ON TXWY S AND WAS ABOUT TO TURN E ON TXWY D WHEN GND CTL CALLED AND SAID; 'YOU'RE NOT TURNING THERE; ARE YOU?' I STOPPED THE ACFT AS HE EXPLAINED THAT HE BELIEVED THAT THE PORTION OF TXWY D BTWN TXWY S AND D10 WAS CLOSED. AS IT TURNED OUT; AFTER HE CONTACTED THE CITY; IT WAS NOT CLOSED AND WE CONTINUED ON TO THE GATE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THIS SITUATION GOT ME TO THINKING; HOWEVER; AS TO WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF THAT TXWY WAS INDEED CLOSED! COULD I HAVE INGESTED A BARRICADE? BENT A NOSE GEAR? OR WORSE; INJURED A CONSTRUCTION WORKER? THE PROB IS; THAT I WAS EASILY BAITED INTO THINKING THAT TXWY S WAS D10 AS IT CORRESPONDED WITH E10. D10; HOWEVER; CORRESPONDS DIRECTLY WITH E11 OF ALL THINGS! ON TOP OF THAT; THE SIGNAGE SHOWING YOU ARE ON TXWY S IS WAY TO THE N OF TXWY D. NORMALLY; I MAKE A MENTAL NOTE TO NOT DO THE OBVIOUS AND TURN WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE I SHOULD AND COUNT ONE UNMARKED TXWY BEFORE TURNING INTO THE RAMP AT D10. NEVERTHELESS; AFTER A 6-LEG DAY; EVEN THAT SYS FAILED THIS TIME AND AFTER 11+ YRS OF OPERATING AT THIS ARPT; I MADE THE TURN ONE TXWY TOO EARLY. MY GUESS IS THAT IF IT HAPPENED TO ME (AND MY FO WHO WAS HEADS UP AT THE TIME AND SOUNDED NO COMPLAINT) IT HAS PROBABLY HAPPENED BEFORE TO OTHER PLTS AND IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN AGAIN. PERHAPS BETTER SIGNAGE AND/OR RENAMING THAT TXWY TO TXWY ES OR TXWY DS SO THAT THE NUMBERED TXWYS STAY IN SEQUENCE MIGHT MAKE MORE SENSE. 9 TIMES OUT OF 10 IT WOULD PROBABLY TURN OUT AS IT DID AND BE NO BIG DEAL. HOWEVER; THAT 1 TIME OUT OF 10 IS WHAT SCARES ME!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.