A B757 crew exited Runway 22L at the runway end and after entering a construction modified Taxiway Z; missed and taxied across it. The crew cited lack of familiarity; dusk lighting and construction-modifications as distracting factors.
Synopsis
A B757 crew exited Runway 22L at the runway end and after entering a construction modified Taxiway Z; missed and taxied across it. The crew cited lack of familiarity; dusk lighting and construction-modifications as distracting factors.
Narrative
We landed on Runway 22L at JFK and tower told us to clear at the end due to construction and to hold short of Runway 31L. I did read back this clearance. There was a great deal of construction going on with temporary barriers on either side of the taxiway as we cleared the runway making the taxiway appear very narrow. I was so engrossed in looking at where we were taxiing that I delayed the after landing checklist to stay outside. This in an unfamiliar area of the airport since we normally take the high-speed taxiway further up the runway; however; it was closed due to the construction. In fact the extension of Runway 31L is also closed between Runways 22L and 22R. Most of our attention was focused on the narrow taxi path; temporary barriers and the large amount of traffic waiting to cross Runway 22R. It wasn't until we were on Runway 31L that any of us saw any signs or markings for the runway. It was at this point that I saw the hold short line for Runway 31L; for opposite direction traffic. This really confused me since I hadn't even recognized we had gone on to a runway. Once clear of the runway; we held short of Taxiway J. Tower called us telling us he had told us to hold short of Runway 31L and to now hold short of Runway 22R at Taxiway J which I acknowledged still puzzled about where Runway 31L had been during our taxi. Even now looking at the airport page as well as the other charts (which doesn't show this construction) it's confusing to see just where we actually taxied. Later flights clearing at the end of Runway 22L were told to hold short of Taxiway Y which is where we ended up. Was this dangerous? No; since that portion of the runway is unusable at the moment and we were far behind any traffic that would have been taking off of Runway 31R at Taxiway KK intersection. Could it happen again? I wouldn't be surprised if we weren't the first. The temporary barricades; narrow taxiway and unfamiliarity with that section of the airport made this rather confusing. In retrospect; we should have stopped the aircraft to figure out where we were really going.
Second reporter narrative
After reaching the end and clearing the runway; we proceeded on Taxiway Z through the construction area without realizing we had missed the hold short line. We proceeded through the construction area and across Runway 31L toward Taxiways Z/Y where numerous other aircraft were waiting and holding short of Runway 22R. Immediately upon clearing Runway 22L; we had referenced airport chart and the construction diagram and communicated internally (within cockpit) trying to determine the exact clearance -- but by the time we clarified we were in the confusing construction area and had missed the hold short point seconds earlier. We immediately contacted tower and were re-cleared to hold short of Runway 22R. No runway operations impacted during this time.
NASA callback
The Reporter stated that none of the three pilots had taxied on that part of the airport before even though they land there frequently. After exiting 22L and turning onto Taxiway Z they saw the foot tall barricades with numerous flashing lights on either side of the taxiway. The taxiway itself was closed so they had to taxi on the large run up area on the southwest side of the Taxiway Z. After reentering Taxiway Z from the run up pad; the reporter still had not started the After Landing Checklist because he was intent on looking at the environment. The runway signage is NOTAMed out and so was not available to help identify the Runway 31L end. The pilots did not recognize that they had crossed Runway 31L until the aircraft was clearing the runway and was crossing the southwesterly direction hold short line headed northeast. At that point the crew had no idea where they were and even verbalized 'Where are we and what do we do next?' ATC then called them and issued further instructions clarifying the taxi route. The reporter believes that the dusk environment; lack of familiarity with that runway end environment; unusual taxiway obstructions and task overload lead to the runway incursion.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.