NASA · Aviation Safety Reporting System
Air carrier pilot reported a possible runway incursion while taxiing on Runway 6 with instructions to hold short of Runway 12L. Pilot recommends a "Hot Spot" flag/designation for this location on the airport diagram to warn of potential for incursion.
What is ASRS?
The Aviation Safety Reporting System is NASA's voluntary, confidential, non- punitive incident-reporting system, established 1976. Pilots, controllers, dispatchers, and maintenance technicians file reports describing safety- relevant events. NASA de-identifies every report before adding it to the public database. Reports are not investigated by NASA, the FAA, or the NTSB — they represent the reporter's perspective.
Pilot narrative
Verbatim from the de-identified NASA record. First-person account by the
reporter. NASA strips identifying details (names, company, specific time);
anonymization placeholders are ZZZ,
X, Y.
STL Ground Metering/Ground initially cleared us to taxi to Runway 12L via [taxiway] D, hold short Runway 06. Approaching Runway 06, Ground cleared us onto Runway 06, cross Runway 12R, hold short Runway 12L. Runway 06 does not intersect Runway 12R but passes behind it. On Runway 06, Ground cleared us to taxi F, S, hold short Runway 12L, switch to Tower. This clearance was partially blocked and Ground repeated it. At the same time, we were running the before takeoff checklist. Holding short of Runway 12L on [taxiway] S, Tower gave us takeoff clearance and we departed without incident. After departure, my Captain re-reviewed the taxi charts and became concerned that we might have crossed Runway 12L, hold short line on Runway 06 prior to receiving the Ground clearance to continue past this hold short line. We were not aware of a hold short line on Runway 06 for Runway 12L. My impression was that we most likely received the clearance to continue at or before this hold short line, but am not absolutely positive. ATC did not mention that we did anything wrong. A note in the company information page alerting pilots to the issue and a hot spot on the airport diagram may be helpful, especially during periods of additive conditions such as frequency congestion, rapid airport reconfiguration of open and closed runways and taxiways, men and equipment operating very near the taxiways and runways. It may help if ATC reinforces runway hold short lines on active runways during this time.
NASA classification — Anomalies
- ATC Issue
- Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural
- Ground Incursion
NASA classification — Assessments
- Contributing Factors / Situations
- Airport · Chart Or Publication · Human Factors · Procedure
- Primary Problem
- Procedure
ASRS reports are voluntarily submitted, de-identified by NASA, and represent the reporter's perspective. The presence of reports on a topic cannot be used to infer prevalence in the National Airspace System. The authoritative source is the NASA ASRS Database Online at asrs.arc.nasa.gov ↗.