Narrative:

I cleared a C172 for takeoff runway 7L; intersection N4. After that I continued with my scan (eastbound) down the runway; the adjacent taxiways and then my departure corridor. There were multiple aircraft on the radar scope and I was scanning all of them to make sure I had the right aircraft written down that were inbound to runway 7L and also scanning for any potential issues on the final. When I looked back the aircraft still had not moved from her position on taxiway N4. I then scanned my strip bay and continued to pre-plan my next courses of actions. I then broke [an aircraft] off his approach to allow more aircraft to depart behind [the C172]. After issuing [the go-around] a 050 heading; I went back to scan runway 7L and noticed the C172 facing westbound on the runway. I immediately canceled the takeoff clearance. In the middle of my transmission I could see the C172 beginning to move forward; westbound on the runway. I then instructed the C172 to stop on the runway multiple times. The pilot never acknowledged. The controller in charge instructed me to put the C172 on the downwind. I then issued her a heading of 070. It appeared she never took the heading so I issued her a heading of 090.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DAB Tower Controller reports issuing an intersection takeoff clearance to a C172 pilot for Runway 7L. The pilot turns the wrong way and departs on 25R. The Controller attempted to cancel the takeoff clearance then attempts to issue heading instructions to no avail.

Narrative: I cleared a C172 for takeoff Runway 7L; intersection N4. After that I continued with my scan (eastbound) down the runway; the adjacent taxiways and then my departure corridor. There were multiple aircraft on the radar scope and I was scanning all of them to make sure I had the right aircraft written down that were inbound to Runway 7L and also scanning for any potential issues on the final. When I looked back the aircraft still had not moved from her position on Taxiway N4. I then scanned my strip bay and continued to pre-plan my next courses of actions. I then broke [an aircraft] off his approach to allow more aircraft to depart behind [the C172]. After issuing [the go-around] a 050 Heading; I went back to scan Runway 7L and noticed the C172 facing westbound on the runway. I immediately canceled the takeoff clearance. In the middle of my transmission I could see the C172 beginning to move forward; westbound on the runway. I then instructed the C172 to STOP on the runway multiple times. The pilot never acknowledged. The CIC instructed me to put the C172 on the downwind. I then issued her a heading of 070. It appeared she never took the heading so I issued her a heading of 090.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.