Narrative:

I was conducting pattern work and renewing night currency requirements at oakland international airport in a cessna 172. The time was more than one hour past sunset. Having been cleared for the option for each of my landing approaches; I performed three full stop landings and three take offs on runway 27R. After my third full stop landing; I elected to exit runway 27R at golf taxiway and request a taxi back for departure. Tower instructed me to turn right from golf on to taxiway charlie and to taxi to runway 27R while remaining on tower frequency of 118.3. As I neared the approach end of runway 27R; I noticed the hold line for 27R at taxiway bravo. The runway holding position sign indicated 27R-9L. From private pilot training and studying the aim figures 2-3-24 and 2-3-25; I determined I was not at the end of the runway. I was looking for a sign that simply indicated 27R by itself with white lettering on a red background. Reviewing the current commercial airport diagram I was carrying on my yoke clip; I observed what appeared to be taxiway alpha connecting to runway 27R at the end of the runway. I proceeded further down taxiway charlie and held short of the 27R appch sign and hold short line effectively placing me on taxiway alpha. I radioed the tower on 118.3 that I was ready for departure. Oakland tower cleared me for take-off on runway 27R. As I crossed the hold short line for the 27R appch; I looked for a line to lead me on to 27R but did not see one at all. There did not appear to be any aircraft access provided; or taxiway lighting between taxiway alpha and runway 27R. At this point I stopped the aircraft to evaluate my position which I determined was on taxiway alpha and on the extended center line of runway 27R. Almost simultaneously; the tower said he noticed I was on alpha taxiway and offered me the choice to taxi ahead on alpha and turn back on bravo or perform a 180 degree turn on alpha taxiway from my present location and taxi via charlie and bravo taxiways to depart 27R. I opted for the 180 degree turn on alpha and taxied via charlie and bravo. Shortly after arriving at bravo while on charlie; tower restated my clearance to take off on runway 27R. I departed runway 27R without any problem and returned to my home airport. I am concerned with the apparent difference between the airport diagrams and actual taxiway layout in this area of the oakland airport. Another factor in this experience is my infrequent operation on the taxiways at oakland.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 pilot experiences confusion while taxiing to Runway 27R at OAK via C Taxiway during night time conditions. Alpha Taxiway is inadvertently entered which has no connection to Runway 27R.

Narrative: I was conducting pattern work and renewing night currency requirements at Oakland International Airport in a Cessna 172. The time was more than one hour past sunset. Having been cleared for the option for each of my landing approaches; I performed three full stop landings and three take offs on runway 27R. After my third full stop landing; I elected to exit runway 27R at Golf taxiway and request a taxi back for departure. Tower instructed me to turn right from Golf on to taxiway Charlie and to taxi to runway 27R while remaining on Tower frequency of 118.3. As I neared the approach end of runway 27R; I noticed the hold line for 27R at taxiway Bravo. The runway holding position sign indicated 27R-9L. From private pilot training and studying the AIM Figures 2-3-24 and 2-3-25; I determined I was not at the end of the runway. I was looking for a sign that simply indicated 27R by itself with white lettering on a red background. Reviewing the current Commercial airport diagram I was carrying on my yoke clip; I observed what appeared to be taxiway Alpha connecting to runway 27R at the end of the runway. I proceeded further down taxiway Charlie and held short of the 27R APPCH sign and hold short line effectively placing me on taxiway Alpha. I radioed the Tower on 118.3 that I was ready for departure. Oakland Tower cleared me for take-off on runway 27R. As I crossed the hold short line for the 27R APPCH; I looked for a line to lead me on to 27R but did not see one at all. There did not appear to be any aircraft access provided; or taxiway lighting between taxiway Alpha and runway 27R. At this point I stopped the aircraft to evaluate my position which I determined was on taxiway Alpha and on the extended center line of runway 27R. Almost simultaneously; the Tower said he noticed I was on Alpha taxiway and offered me the choice to taxi ahead on Alpha and turn back on Bravo or perform a 180 degree turn on Alpha taxiway from my present location and taxi via Charlie and Bravo taxiways to depart 27R. I opted for the 180 degree turn on Alpha and taxied via Charlie and Bravo. Shortly after arriving at Bravo while on Charlie; Tower restated my clearance to take off on runway 27R. I departed runway 27R without any problem and returned to my home airport. I am concerned with the apparent difference between the airport diagrams and actual taxiway layout in this area of the Oakland airport. Another factor in this experience is my infrequent operation on the taxiways at Oakland.

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.