Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Human Factors; Aircraft
During departure taxi at night to 36C in CLT; the taxi surfaces were wet with puddles of water. The glare from the surrounding lights on the water made it difficult to see taxi lines and marking so I taxied especially slow. The Ramp Controller had us holding at spot X for inbound traffic. Then Ramp Control instructed us continue our taxi to spot Y South. The First Officer requested taxi clearance on ground control frequency. The Ground Controller gave us the instructions as follows: 'Aircraft X taxi to Runway 36C via Taxiway Golf; Runway 23; hold short of Taxiway Bravo; contract Ground on 121.8.' The First Officer read the instructions back to the Ground Controller precisely. As I approach Taxiway G; I scanned Runway 23 to my left. The area in that direction was very dark and I did not see any airplanes or airplane lights to indicate that there was another airplane coming from left to right. When I looked in the easterly direction I could see the FBO lights on the east side of the Airport and with that backdrop area looked clear of traffic. I took my attention back to the Taxiway in front of us to enter the center of Taxiway G. I looked right to clear the direction I wanted to turn. As our airplane's nose was abeam the edge of the entry of Runway 23; I looked left again and barely made out Aircraft Y nose. At the same time I saw the airplane; they flashed the light on the nose wheel on and off. I slammed on the brakes and stopped in time not entering the Runway. The Aircraft Y made no attempt to stop and as the airplane passed us at a good rate of speed and it turned off the light on the nose wheel. Also I did not see navigation lights on the wings. The airplane was very dark with not even the logo light on. I set the parking brake and had to take a few minutes to decide if we [were] fine to continue. I told the First Officer to let Ground Control know we were stopped on Taxiway Golf. The Ground Controller was unaware of the issue as he was busy giving airplanes behind us taxi instructions. Once we were able to get a turn on the frequency the First Officer told him we need a minute on Taxiway G. When the Controller asked the reason; I took the radio call and advised him we almost entered Runway 23 when the Aircraft Y on Runway 23 almost abeam Taxiway Golf. He apologized for the mistake and I told him we needed a few more minutes. I needed a few minutes to discuss the event with the First Officer and check on the flight attendants. The First Officer and I discussed that the Aircraft Y probably landed on Runway 36R at approximately XA:45z and received taxi instructions before we were on the frequency. The airplane must of been on Taxiway Charlie or Romeo entering Runway 23 when I looked in that direction the first time. Without the Taxiway light there was very little chance of seeing the airplane in the dark and all the back ground lights obscuring a single navigation light. When we checked on to the ground control frequency I did not hear the Controller speak to a Company X airplane. The Controller interrupted our discussion and the time I needed to speak to the flight attendants. I instructed the First Officer to tell him we needed a few more minutes. I contacted the flight attendants and check on the cabin. They had already called 'secure for takeoff' so they said everything was fine. Afterwards; I told the First Officer to let Ground know we were ready to continue the taxi. We were given the same taxi instructions and the Controller apologized again. On the second ground control frequency I asked if he could get any information on the Aircraft Y and he came back with no information on the airplane as it was an inbound flight. We completed the taxi and prepared for takeoff. The flight was completed without further incident.
Pilot reported a ground conflict with another aircraft during taxi while complying with a taxi clearance at night.