Date: 201404
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: MCO.Airport, FL
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 2 Eng; Retractable Gear
Operator: Corporate
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Taxi
ATC / advisory: Ground MCO
Reporter organization: Corporate
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Confusion; Workload
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: Taxi
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Contributing factors: Airport
Primary problem: Airport

Narrative: While taxiing for departure at MCO from a southwest location on the field to a departure from Runway 17R ([Runway] 18L closed for construction and [Runway] 18L closed for aircraft issue); Ground Controller gave me taxi instructions from the FBO to Alpha to Bravo 2 cross [Runway] 18R and hold short of [Runway] 18L. After arriving and holding short of [Runway] 18L he issued further instructions to cross [Runway] 18L turn right on Charlie then left on Juliette to Juliette 4 and hold short of Juliette 4. Ground then gave a corporate jet following me the same instructions except for them to hold at Juliette 2. I asked Ground to clarify my hold at Juliette 4 and he confirmed. I continued taxi when he said for me to hold and let the corporate jet pass me since he had a slot time into his destination; which I did. He said after the corporate jet passed to continue on to [Runway] 17R and monitor Tower on 118.45. I asked the Ground Controller if he still needed the hold at Juliette 4 which he said I was already past Juliette 4 and just follow the corporate jet.Then I realized that the Juliette 4 taxiway sign was positioned facing to the north and it was necessary to face south to see it. I was taxing east on Juliette and failed to see the sign. I had seen the Juliette 3 sign and was prepared to stop; but obviously got past J4 and stopped before I got to J5 when I observed the sign. There were no other aircraft in the vicinity other than the corporate jet; which passed me on the Airside 2 ramp and no issues resulted to my knowledge. I have been flying out of MCO for many years and this was a highly irregular taxi due to the closure of both [runways] 18R and 18L; so I was diligently paying attention to the taxi instructions since I was operating in the air carrier environment. I am amiss how I could have possibly gotten by J4 without seeing it. In reviewing the airport diagram for MCO it appears J3 and J4 share the same taxiway that is undivided by a median of grass so maybe one is for inbound and the other for outbound to the north side of Airside 2 air carrier ramp. If that is the case the sign was positioned on the east side of the taxiway thus past it before it is visible. I know it is my responsibility to adhere to all instructions and I obviously missed this one. In the future I will stop taxi and query the controller before potentially making a similar mistake. I don't think any issues resulted; but nonetheless I don't like making mistakes especially when I am so diligently paying attention and watching intently for my hold short point.

Callback: The reporter returned to that area of MCO by ground vehicle and visually verified that the correct taxiway signage on the north side of Taxiway J approaching Taxiways J3 and J4. The signs are difficult to see in a small aircraft; but probably not difficult in an air carrier type aircraft higher off the pavement.



Synopsis: A pilot reported he failed to hold short of MCO Taxiway J4 while taxiing eastbound on J because he did not see the J4 sign because it was difficult to see in an aircraft low to the ground.