A B727-200 crew, after landing on runway 33L, turned onto BOS runway 22L mistaking it for runway 22R because drifting snow obscured taxiway runway markers.

Narrative

Rewritten in plain English from NASA’s original all-caps telegraphic report — facts, figures, and terminology preserved.

After landing at BOS on runway 33L, I cleared the runway to the left at taxiway F. A concerted effort was made to slow in time enough to make this turnoff, due to the remaining surface of the runway being contaminated with ice and snow. The previous landing aircraft, a B757, had reported 'braking action fair.'

As we were clearing the runway, we were told to 'back taxi runway 22R to 'whiskey' then 'bravo' and parking.' Our destination was south cargo ramp. I executed a left turn onto what I believed to be runway 22R, but in actuality was runway 22L.

While back-taxiing, I was trying to better orient myself, but was having difficulty doing so due to the snow drifts that had obscured all of the runway and taxiway signs and markings (ref NOTAM BOS). I proceeded to pass 3 undistinguishable taxiways leading to my right intending to turn onto taxiway W as instructed to do.

As I turned onto what I believed to be the correct taxiway, I was actually turning onto the remaining 800 feet of the runway 27. Unknown to me, this caused an aircraft flight to abort their takeoff after a 400 feet roll. This info was provided to me from the ops supervisor on duty at the time. At this point was the first notice to me that we had not been on the proper routing.