A B737-700 Captain reported becoming disoriented while taxiing at an unfamiliar CTAF airport at night and entering an incorrect taxiway. Reverse thrust was used to remain on track while correcting the taxiway deviation.
Synopsis
A B737-700 Captain reported becoming disoriented while taxiing at an unfamiliar CTAF airport at night and entering an incorrect taxiway. Reverse thrust was used to remain on track while correcting the taxiway deviation.
Narrative
During taxi out at night; after considerable delay due to cleaners and catering arriving late to the aircraft; I was unfamiliar with the airport and began to turn the wrong direction down taxiway F which was closed several hundred feet northeast of the terminal. Continuing would have put the aircraft into a position where both turning around and continuing would be impossible. I stopped; reversed direction of the turn; and had to utilize some reverse thrust to keep the aircraft on the center of the taxiway while correcting our course. We then continued without further incident. Flight crew under pressure due to having inadequate time in our schedule for proper preparation--aircraft due out at 2100; inbound arrived at 2040 and had to be cleaned; catered; fueled; and full crew change. Unfamiliar airport; night operations; uncontrolled field required obtaining clearance from DFW center while making position reports and monitoring CTAF; extremely high-workload period; vague information about taxiway closure; poor markings of closure. Better preparation; allowing more time to properly prepare.
Second reporter narrative
Aircraft was being taxied out for departure. I; the First Officer ; was heads down verifying the takeoff data and route for our charter; aircraft was departing late and the Captain inadvertently taxied onto the wrong taxi way. While I was heads down working on the FMC's the Captain utilized reverse thrust to alter his course back onto the appropriate taxiway. The aircraft maintained the center of the taxiway. Night operations; unfamiliar airport; non-controlled airport environment; diversion of attention on the part of the First Officer during ground ops. No diversion of attention during ground ops at uncontrolled airports.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.