Student and instructor are cleared to taxi to runway 6 and cross runway 32 enroute. The ground contr...

Narrative:

Following engine startup; we received bowman airport ATIS information and then contacted ground control for a taxi clearance. The planned flight was to remain in the VFR traffic pattern at bowman field for practice touch-and-go landings. Our taxi clearance was to 'taxi to runway 6; via taxiway east.' we read back this clearance. Taxiway east crosses the approach end of runway 32. The aircraft ahead of us on the taxiway had been cleared to taxi to runway 32; so we were stopped behind this aircraft at the hold short line for runway 32. We were still monitoring the ground control frequency. As the aircraft ahead cleared taxiway east onto runway 32 (presumably for takeoff); we continued our taxi across runway 32 enroute to runway 6 in accordance with our clearance. Upon clearing runway 32 on the opposite side; we were contacted by ground control who inquired why we had taxied across runway 32; 'the active runway.' we responded by reading back our clearance to taxi to runway 6 via taxiway east. The ground controller disagreed initially; but afterwards indicated that he was sorry if he did clear us to runway 6 and instructed us to make a 180 degree turn on taxiway G and hold short of runway 32. The ground controller indicated that he was going to review the tapes to see if he did in fact clear us to runway 6 instead of runway 32. Our flight proceeded uneventfully and no further complaint or report was given to us by ATC. Upon reviewing the archive of our transmissions using a public website; it is evident that we were cleared to taxi to runway 6; and this is the clearance that we properly read back to the controller. This error in clearance delivered to us by ATC resulted in an inadvertent runway incursion of runway 32; endangering the lives of those onboard my aircraft as well as any possible aircraft on approach to runway 32.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Student and instructor are cleared to taxi to Runway 6 and cross Runway 32 enroute. The Ground Controller questions this; believing the clearance was to Runway 6. The tapes revealed that ATC made an error.

Narrative: Following engine startup; we received Bowman Airport ATIS information and then contacted Ground Control for a taxi clearance. The planned flight was to remain in the VFR traffic pattern at Bowman Field for practice touch-and-go landings. Our taxi clearance was to 'taxi to Runway 6; via Taxiway E.' We read back this clearance. Taxiway E crosses the approach end of Runway 32. The aircraft ahead of us on the taxiway had been cleared to taxi to Runway 32; so we were stopped behind this aircraft at the hold short line for Runway 32. We were still monitoring the Ground Control frequency. As the aircraft ahead cleared Taxiway E onto Runway 32 (presumably for takeoff); we continued our taxi across Runway 32 enroute to Runway 6 in accordance with our clearance. Upon clearing Runway 32 on the opposite side; we were contacted by Ground Control who inquired why we had taxied across Runway 32; 'the active runway.' We responded by reading back our clearance to taxi to Runway 6 via Taxiway E. The Ground Controller disagreed initially; but afterwards indicated that he was sorry if he did clear us to Runway 6 and instructed us to make a 180 degree turn on Taxiway G and hold short of Runway 32. The Ground Controller indicated that he was going to review the tapes to see if he did in fact clear us to Runway 6 instead of Runway 32. Our flight proceeded uneventfully and no further complaint or report was given to us by ATC. Upon reviewing the archive of our transmissions using a public website; it is evident that we were cleared to taxi to Runway 6; and this is the clearance that we properly read back to the Controller. This error in clearance delivered to us by ATC resulted in an inadvertent runway incursion of Runway 32; endangering the lives of those onboard my aircraft as well as any possible aircraft on approach to Runway 32.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	823433
Time
Date	200902
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	LOU.Airport
State Reference	KY
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Champion Citabria 7ECA
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Trainee Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 32 Flight Crew Total 724 Flight Crew Type 17
Person 2
Function	Instructor Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Private Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20 Flight Crew Total 1000 Flight Crew Type 200
Events
Anomaly	Ground Incursion Runway

Student and instructor are cleared to taxi to runway 6 and cross runway 32 enroute. The ground controller questions this; believing the clearance was to runway 6. The tapes revealed that ATC made an error.