Narrative:

Cleared into position and wait [runway] 16R and state whether aircraft ahead departing in sight. We replied the aircraft in sight. [We] cleared for takeoff as aircraft ahead lifting off. As soon as we were cleared for takeoff aircraft behind us instructed to line up and wait and call us in sight. We began our takeoff roll; approaching 70 KTS slc tower cleared the aircraft in position for takeoff. Our vr speed was 150 KTS and we were nearly full. Had we aborted it may have resulted in a catastrophic accident had the aircraft behind us not stopped as we were both occupying the same runway for an extended period of time as we accelerated toward vr. ATC [was] rushing to depart aircraft. There were no aircraft landing on our runway; only departures. An unsafe practice by slc tower.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SLC Tower cleared a B737 for takeoff while the aircraft ahead was still on the runway. Then as the B737 accelerated beyond 70 KTS; the following aircraft was cleared for takeoff. An abort would have caused a serious problem.

Narrative: Cleared into position and wait [Runway] 16R and state whether aircraft ahead departing in sight. We replied the aircraft in sight. [We] cleared for takeoff as aircraft ahead lifting off. As soon as we were cleared for takeoff aircraft behind us instructed to line up and wait and call us in sight. We began our takeoff roll; approaching 70 KTS SLC Tower cleared the aircraft in position for takeoff. Our Vr speed was 150 KTS and we were nearly full. Had we aborted it may have resulted in a catastrophic accident had the aircraft behind us not stopped as we were both occupying the same runway for an extended period of time as we accelerated toward Vr. ATC [was] rushing to depart aircraft. There were no aircraft landing on our runway; only departures. An unsafe practice by SLC Tower.

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.