Narrative:

Cleared to take off on runway 27 from Q8. As I looked down the runway for the number 27 to confirm position prior to turning down the runway; I could not see the number as I was on the displaced threshold but I saw a red sign that said 30-12. I looked to my left to check the other runway and I saw a sign that said 27-9. I thought for a moment that 27 was to my left. As I continued along taxiway Q8 I realized my mistake and stopped the aircraft. About then tower called and said you missed your turn. At this time the back half of my aircraft was still on runway 27. The tower said hold your position then asked if I was over the 30 hold line. I was unsure of my position relative to the 30 hold line so I told tower I was over it; though in retrospect I may have not been. Tower then cleared us for takeoff. I realize this was a very serious error and should not have happened. We both had our maps out; I am familiar with mia and I know those signs indicate runway you are approaching; but I was looking for confirmation of the proper runway before I turned down and lined up. When I saw the 30 on my intended runway and 27 to my left it confused me just enough to cause the error. I think fatigue was a factor as we had a very early wake up. Supplemental information from acn 767501: it is very difficult to determine the runway with reference to the taxi signs. I would recommend the types of painted runway markings found on european runways to avoid this confusion.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLT CREW REPORTS CONFUSION IDENTIFYING THE RUNWAY AT MIA DURING TAXI FOR TAKEOFF.

Narrative: CLRED TO TAKE OFF ON RWY 27 FROM Q8. AS I LOOKED DOWN THE RWY FOR THE NUMBER 27 TO CONFIRM POS PRIOR TO TURNING DOWN THE RWY; I COULD NOT SEE THE NUMBER AS I WAS ON THE DISPLACED THRESHOLD BUT I SAW A RED SIGN THAT SAID 30-12. I LOOKED TO MY L TO CHK THE OTHER RWY AND I SAW A SIGN THAT SAID 27-9. I THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT THAT 27 WAS TO MY L. AS I CONTINUED ALONG TXWY Q8 I REALIZED MY MISTAKE AND STOPPED THE ACFT. ABOUT THEN TWR CALLED AND SAID YOU MISSED YOUR TURN. AT THIS TIME THE BACK HALF OF MY ACFT WAS STILL ON RWY 27. THE TWR SAID HOLD YOUR POS THEN ASKED IF I WAS OVER THE 30 HOLD LINE. I WAS UNSURE OF MY POS RELATIVE TO THE 30 HOLD LINE SO I TOLD TWR I WAS OVER IT; THOUGH IN RETROSPECT I MAY HAVE NOT BEEN. TWR THEN CLRED US FOR TKOF. I REALIZE THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS ERROR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. WE BOTH HAD OUR MAPS OUT; I AM FAMILIAR WITH MIA AND I KNOW THOSE SIGNS INDICATE RWY YOU ARE APCHING; BUT I WAS LOOKING FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE PROPER RWY BEFORE I TURNED DOWN AND LINED UP. WHEN I SAW THE 30 ON MY INTENDED RWY AND 27 TO MY L IT CONFUSED ME JUST ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE ERROR. I THINK FATIGUE WAS A FACTOR AS WE HAD A VERY EARLY WAKE UP. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 767501: IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE THE RWY WITH REF TO THE TAXI SIGNS. I WOULD RECOMMEND THE TYPES OF PAINTED RWY MARKINGS FOUND ON EUROPEAN RWYS TO AVOID THIS CONFUSION.

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.