Aircraft was cleared for takeoff while a previously cleared vehicle was still on the runway. The veh...

Attributes
ACN	116378
Time
Date	198907
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ric
State Reference	VA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
ASRS Report	116378
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

A vehicle requested clearance onto the runway intersection of runway 25 for maintenance. I approved this operation. Approximately 5 mins later, not seeing the vehicle on the runway and not remembering authorizing a clearance into the intersection, I cleared an aircraft for takeoff. After the aircraft departed, the driver of the vehicle queried his clearance onto the runway, stating he heard the takeoff clearance and had cleared the runway prior to the act starting takeoff roll. Since the vehicle was not on the runway, no runway incursion occurred, however, thee was the potential of one since I had not ensured otherwise. There is some question as to whether or not the vehicle was 250' from the centerline, when he stated he was clear of the runway. However, the 250' clearance has never before been questioned when these maintenance vehicles have reported clear of the runway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT WAS CLEARED FOR TKOF WHILE A PREVIOUSLY CLEARED VEHICLE WAS STILL ON THE RWY. THE VEHICLE OPERATOR HEARD THE TKOF CLRNC, CLEARED THE RWY.

Narrative: A VEHICLE REQUESTED CLRNC ONTO THE RWY INTXN OF RWY 25 FOR MAINT. I APPROVED THIS OPERATION. APPROX 5 MINS LATER, NOT SEEING THE VEHICLE ON THE RWY AND NOT REMEMBERING AUTHORIZING A CLRNC INTO THE INTXN, I CLRED AN ACFT FOR TKOF. AFTER THE ACFT DEPARTED, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE QUERIED HIS CLRNC ONTO THE RWY, STATING HE HEARD THE TKOF CLRNC AND HAD CLRED THE RWY PRIOR TO THE ACT STARTING TKOF ROLL. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE RWY, NO RWY INCURSION OCCURRED, HOWEVER, THEE WAS THE POTENTIAL OF ONE SINCE I HAD NOT ENSURED OTHERWISE. THERE IS SOME QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE WAS 250' FROM THE CENTERLINE, WHEN HE STATED HE WAS CLEAR OF THE RWY. HOWEVER, THE 250' CLRNC HAS NEVER BEFORE BEEN QUESTIONED WHEN THESE MAINT VEHICLES HAVE REPORTED CLEAR OF THE RWY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.

Aircraft was cleared for takeoff while a previously cleared vehicle was still on the runway. The vehicle operator heard the takeoff clearance, cleared the runway.