PA-34 Seneca Undifferentiated
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 57; Flight Crew Total 1454.3; Flight Crew Type 145.3
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Runway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
I was involved in a pilot deviation during taxi at the Chattonooga airport (CHA) and wanted to explain the situation to help all parties better understand the situation. I flew into the unfamiliar airport [and shut down at the FBO]. Before taxiing we received taxi instructions; 'taxi to runway 2 via Charlie and Alpha hold short of runway 2'. Part of one taxiway was closed; slightly adding to my unfamiliarity with the field.  During taxi; we were taxing from the FBO to runway 02; I unfortunately missed the hold short lines for runway 2 at Charlie.  Upon crossing the hold Short lines I immediately noticed our error and stopped the airplane short of the actual runway. At the exact time we were stopping the airplane Ground also advised us to 'hold our position'. I did not encroach onto the runway; nor did we cause any other aircrafts deviate from their current mission  but we did cross the hold short lines.  I felt terrible for putting ourselves and others into a situation that could raise concern for my piloting skills and the concerns raised by local ATC.  I have been flying for quite some time now and have never been involved in any sort of pilot deviation or aircraft occurrence. I have also acquired a new personal method for identifying and verifying all taxi information no matter my familiarity with a particular airport.  I cannot express my regrets for my actions but can guarantee this was the first and last.  The experience I have gained through this solidifies my guarantee for my future in aviation without incident.
Runway 2 was the runway in use the day of the event. A [military trainer]; was executing 'touch and go' landings in the 'closed traffic pattern' with the tower. A PA34; was parked at the FBO on the West side of the airport and West of runway 2. The PA34 called to taxi to runway 2 when the [military trainer] was on final for a 'touch and go' on runway 2. I gave the PA34 pilot these taxi instructions: 'Seneca XXX; runway 2 taxi via Charlie; Alpha; hold short of runway 2 at Charlie.' He read back; 'Runway 2 taxi via Charlie; Alpha; hold short of runway 2.' Once I observed the PA34 starting to taxi from the West ramp; I began looking through my binoculars at final so I could coordinate with the Local Controller to cross the PA34 at taxiway Charlie. One of my co-workers; who was monitoring in tower; noticed the PA34 entered taxiway Charlie with the intent of crossing runway 2 because once the PA34 reached Charlie; the aircraft's taxi speed increased to cross runway 2 at Charlie; even though the pilot was instructed to hold short of runway 2 at Charlie. I had to instruct the PA34 pilot to 'hold your position' because the aircraft had passed the 'hold short' line on taxiway Charlie; for runway 2. At that point; the [military trainer] had landed on runway 2; south of Charlie; and was acelarating for take-off for another 'touch and go.' If I had not stopped the PA34 when I did; he would have entered runway 2 from Charlie and collided with the [military trainer] because he was acelarating on runway 2 and crossing the intersection of runway 2 and Charlie. Both aircraft would have been in the same place; on the runway; at the same time.
PA-34 instructor pilot reports crossing the hold bars on Taxiway C at Runway 2 after receiving a taxi clearance that included instructions to hold short of Runway 2 at C. The error is detected by the pilot and the Ground Controller at the same instant and the aircraft is stopped short of the actual runway. The Controller believes that a collision would have occurred with a touch and go aircraft on Runway 2 had the PA34 Instructor not stopped.