A crj-200 flight crew suffered a critical ground conflict with an MD80 when they turned onto a taxiw...

Attributes
ACN	960480
Time
Date	201107
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	DTW.Airport
State Reference	MI
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial
Events
Anomaly	Conflict Ground Conflict Critical Deviation - Procedural Clearance Ground Incursion Taxiway

Narrative:

While taxiing into the dtw ramp via taxiway Q; the ramp controller advised us that our gate was occupied and that we were to turn left at Q1; right on J11; and hold short of Q2. The ramp controller then told us that an md-88 headed east on taxiway J would give way to us. As we approached the entrance of the ramp on taxiway Q; I became confused and misread the fairly large number of taxiway signs at the intersection. I mistakenly believed taxiway J11 was Q1. I looked to my left and saw that there was enough room ahead of the md-80 to enter the de-ice pad.at this point I assumed since the md-80 was instructed to 'give way' that it was; therefore; stopped. As I made an admittedly sharp turn to J11; I saw the md-80 rock forward as it stopped abruptly.I became confused and knew it. Instead of stopping and asking my first officer or ATC for help; I made a quick decision and acted on it. This left nobody able to correct my error before it became consequential. While we had briefed the taxi I had not looked closely at the taxiways in the vicinity of the ramp with which I was unfamiliar.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CRJ-200 flight crew suffered a critical ground conflict with an MD80 when they turned onto a taxiway prior to the one by which they had been cleared and into the path of the other aircraft. A quick response by the MD80 pilot saved the day.

Narrative: While taxiing into the DTW ramp via Taxiway Q; the Ramp Controller advised us that our gate was occupied and that we were to turn left at Q1; right on J11; and hold short of Q2. The Ramp Controller then told us that an MD-88 headed east on Taxiway J would give way to us. As we approached the entrance of the ramp on Taxiway Q; I became confused and misread the fairly large number of taxiway signs at the intersection. I mistakenly believed Taxiway J11 was Q1. I looked to my left and saw that there was enough room ahead of the MD-80 to enter the de-ice pad.At this point I assumed since the MD-80 was instructed to 'give way' that it was; therefore; stopped. As I made an admittedly sharp turn to J11; I saw the MD-80 rock forward as it stopped abruptly.I became confused and knew it. Instead of stopping and asking my First Officer or ATC for help; I made a quick decision and acted on it. This left nobody able to correct my error before it became consequential. While we had briefed the taxi I had not looked closely at the taxiways in the vicinity of the ramp with which I was unfamiliar.

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.

A crj-200 flight crew suffered a critical ground conflict with an MD80 when they turned onto a taxiway prior to the one by which they had been cleared and into the path of the other aircraft. A quick response by the MD80 pilot saved the day.