Date: 201305
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: BWI.Airport, MD
Aircraft: B737-800
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Taxi
ATC / advisory: Ground BWI
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; First Officer
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Confusion
Second reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway; Ground Incursion Runway
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: Taxi
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Airport
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: We were given a taxi clearance to taxi to Runway 28 via: Alpha-Papa1-Uniform cleared to cross Runway 22. After receiving our taxi clearance; the Captain briefed the taxi and we departed the ramp area. We got distracted when we saw another airplane and we missed the turn onto Alpha taxiway. The next thing we knew; we were getting a call from the Ground Controller saying we were on Runway 28. When we missed the left turn on Alpha; we ended up on Echo taxiway and entered the runway. There were no other airplanes on Runway 28 and we were told to taxi down to Uniform 1. The area in question is HS-3 on the airport diagram. When you leave the ramp area; it is important to make sure you turn left immediately. We let ourselves get side-tracked by the other aircraft.


Second narrative: After pushback; we were released between pier B and C facing southeast. The Before Taxi checklist was completed and we received the following taxi clearance from Ground Control: 'Flight #; taxi to Runway 28; via Alpha; Papa One; Uniform; cross Runway 22.' From our position; Papa One was obscured by a building. I briefed that we would make a left turn on Alpha followed by a right turn on Papa One for the runway crossing. As we pulled forward; I may have become distracted by an aircraft taking off; and commented that it was odd that they would clear us to cross a runway prior to it actually being clear. As we approached the runway; we both visually cleared left and right; and I proceeded to cross. I noticed that something didn't seem quite right about the same time that the Tower told us to hold position. Somehow; we had proceeded ahead on Echo and began to cross Runway 10-28 instead of 4-22. We were instructed to proceed down the runway and exit at Uniform One. Apparently; my distraction from the aircraft taking off was a contributing factor in the improper execution of the briefed taxi route; and a runway incursion resulted. I would like to note that we visually cleared both ends of the runway and final approach; and that there were no go-arounds or aborts; I would also like to note that we were very fortunate that visibility was excellent that day If the capability exists; I would respectfully ask the FAA to look at the runway/taxi signs while facing South on Taxiway Echo. I honestly thought that I was in the correct position prior to the incursion; although obviously I was not.


Synopsis: B737 flight crew reports a runway incursion at Taxiway E and Runway 28 at BWI. Taxi instructions were to taxi via A; P1; U to Runway 28. The turn onto A was never executed.