Cessna Single Piston Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 24; Flight Crew Total 10000; Flight Crew Type 670
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway; Ground Incursion Runway
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Procedure; Human Factors
While enroute in the airport environment at KDWH; I heard the tower instruct; in 3 instances; 'By order of airport management; you must SAY 'stop and your aircraft registration number''. I received the same instructions and upon contacting Ground Control; I said 'Stop; followed by my registration number'. Ground Control responded 'Stop' and I stopped my aircraft. They then instructed me to turn around and return to the runway. I did so; stopping well short of the hold line in order to confirm what their intensions were. I was then told by Ground Control to turn around again and turn left on Taxiway Echo and proceed to the ramp. While enroute to the ramp; while moving; Ground Control called and gave the number of the tower and instructed me to call the tower after shut down. I acknowledged their instructions.Upon speaking with the controller in tower; he stated that I did not stop when exiting the runway and that upon returning to the runway as instructed he was 'almost sure the tip of the nose of my airplane had crossed the runway environment' and he would have to write it up.It turns out that apparently; KDWH has had a high rate of runway incursions due to the unusual design of the airport. I can certainly understand the concern that this causes. However; the plan as implemented is confusing in its implementation. First; the instructions from the tower that 'by order of airport management; you must SAY stop and your aircraft registration number' was something I had never heard before in all my years of flying. It was confusing; and I as a long time radio operator; interpreted it as a way for airport management to specifically identify each aircraft landing; perhaps for billing (a common practice in [radio operation] is to use 'stop' as a way to specifically segregate and piece of information; in the same way 'break' would be used in typical military voice communication to segregate one piece of information from another). To accomplish what the tower wanted; it would have been MUCH more effective if they simply told each landing aircraft 'Stop on the taxiway as soon as you clear the runway environment and do no proceed until directed to do so by Ground Control' (the inclusion of 'by order of the airport management' is unnecessary and adds confusion). This instruction could also have been broadcast periodically by the tower to all landing aircraft at KDWH. It would quickly and clearly accomplish what they are trying to do.At NO time did I allow my aircraft to re-enter the runway environment. The instructions to turn around and again approach the runway were certainly confusing; but I would never enter the runway environment without specific reconfirmation that it was the specific intent of Ground Control or the tower.Last; I do not ever recall being given instructions to copy a phone number while controlling a moving aircraft. The appropriate instruction by Ground Control; I believe; should have been 'I have a phone number for you when you are ready to copy'. That is the type of communication I have become accustomed to over my years of flying.Again; I now understand what they are trying to accomplish at KDWH; but I believe the program can be improved and be made much clearer than in its present form.
A very experienced Cessna pilot is confused by ATC taxi instructions and disputes the suggestion that a runway incursion occurred.