After landing at PAE; a widebody flight crew is instructed to back taxi on Runway 16R and right turn on Runway 11. Crew misses turn off and must wait for assistance from tug; closing runway for 30 minutes.
Synopsis
After landing at PAE; a widebody flight crew is instructed to back taxi on Runway 16R and right turn on Runway 11. Crew misses turn off and must wait for assistance from tug; closing runway for 30 minutes.
Narrative
First 2010 feet of runway unusable due to construction. Landing aircraft are required to rollout to the end of runway; turn left at taxiway A9; left on alpha; left on A8 and hold short of the runway for backtrack to ramp clearance from tower. Clearance was issued to backtrack on the runway; clear the runway (right turn on Runway 11) and left on alpha to the ramp. While taxiing we remarked to each other that the weather was worsening as fog and rain began to cover and obscure the approach end of 16R. We were then told to hold our position by the Tower and we suddenly realized that we had passed the turnoff point (Runway 11) and we stopped and held our position. Fortunately there was no inbound traffic and light aircraft were able to depart on the remaining runway available as we were well clear of all intersections. After 30 minutes; services arrived and the aircraft was towed clear of the runway. After some discussion with my crew we were in agreement that fatigue; special operations due to temporary taxi procedures and attention diverted by weather phenomenon were contributing factors in inadvertently deviating from the tower's clearance. Fatigue factor: 15 hour duty day; 2-leg 11.6 hour block international trip with 7 hr time zone change. 24 hour rest period followed by a 12 hour duty day and a 10 hour block time with reversing the time zones. We feel that a 12 or a 36 hour layover is preferable to 24 due to the fact that one needs time to unwind; rest; and go or by unwinding; resting; have a normal day; rest and then report for duty; especially on international flights.
Second reporter narrative
We had just landed in PAE. I was the Relief Officer seated behind the Captain and First Officer. Our taxi instructions were to exit at Taxiway Alpha 9 then Alpha to Alpha 8; then back taxi on Runway 16R to Runway 11. Right turn on Runway 11 to Alpha to the ramp. We taxied past Runway 11 and noticed it as the Tower did too. We stopped and had to be pushed back with a tug to Runway 11 then pulled to the ramp. Runway 11 was our only turn off available due to construction. We had just flown 9 hours and were all tired. From a distance Runway 11 resembles a taxiway because it is a VFR runway with a very narrow width.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.