Date: 201403
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: FLL.Airport, FL
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Taxi
ATC / advisory: Ground FLL
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Confusion
Second reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Anomaly: Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: Taxi
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Airspace Structure; Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related
Primary problem: Airspace Structure

Narrative: [We] pushed off of the gate for a departure off of [Runway] 28R. Accomplished after start flow and contacted Ramp. Ramp gave us taxi instructions of taxi via Tango hold short of Tango 5 (normally we are given taxi via Tango hold short of Tango 4). I observed the Tango sign out my window on my right; looked up saw Tango 4 and then after that Tango 5. We taxied straight out on what we thought was Tango which turns to Charlie and held short of Tango 5 not realizing Tango curves and stays on the ramp (we were on Charlie). Ground told us of our error and also mentioned that another carrier had made the same mistake as us. While continuing our taxi three more aircraft made the same mistake as us. Ground then commented that the signs or something must be confusing.Pre-briefing what to expect; I believe helped to contribute to this error as we had tunnel vision taxiing out via Tango to Tango 4. When we were given short of Tango 5 we looked up saw the signs and continued. The taxi diagram was out. Seeing the Tango 5 sign up on the right we assumed that we were still on Tango not transitioning to Taxiway Charlie. If this is a common occurrence; then maybe we could make it standard for entering and exiting out of the ramp area. The Tango 5 sign placement on Taxiway Charlie also leads you astray. Which is why; I think 4 aircraft made the same mistake in a 20 minute time period.

Callback: The reporter stated that the aircraft was pushed back tail east so the taxiway signage was to their right. As they began taxiing on Taxiway T immediately after T4 Taxiway the T5 sign was insight slightly left. That sign lead the crew to believe that taxiing nearly straight ahead put them on T5; when in fact that was Taxiway C. The reporter does not remember seeing a Taxiway C sign but because three taxiways converge at the spot; B4; T4 and C; a pilot sitting low in an aircraft may not be able to distinguish between the three. Both pilots had their airport and taxiway charts out and they still made this error. Something about the area's signage is misleading.

Second narrative: Pushed back from FLL gate expecting taxi instructions to taxi T hold short of T4. Ramp instructed us to taxi Taxiway T hold short of T5. I looked at signage and saw signs for T and T5. I held short of what I thought was T5. We contacted FLL Ground and were told that we were on Taxiway C. Looking at airport diagram I realized that Taxiway T curved left (I taxied straight ahead on to Taxiway C) the Ground Controller stated we were the second aircraft to incorrectly taxi on that route today. We then heard two more aircraft be told that they had taxied incorrectly the same route we had taken.I take responsibility for my error. We were given an unexpected clearance with confusing signage. I was very surprised to be told we were not on the correct taxiway (Taxiway T curved left; we taxied straight ahead). Also there was no sign for Taxiway C where we taxied on to C.


Synopsis: A flight crew reported taxi clearance at FLL to Runway 28R via Taxiway Tango; T5; hold short of T4. Because of confusing signage; they taxied onto Taxiway C believing that was T5.