Narrative:

I had taken the local position about 15 minutes prior to the incident. The ground controller advised me of an aircraft that had taxied out and taken a wrong turn. Ground control advised me of an aircraft that would be holding short of the runway waiting to cross. At that time a bonanza advised me he was holding short of the runway ready for departure. I advised ground control that since the aircraft they were taxing went the wrong way; they could wait until my bonanza departs off. I had a cessna that was short final for a touch and go. Once I had sufficient spacing; 'bonanza; runway 3 cleared for takeoff' the bonanza read back the runway cleared for takeoff. During this time of day the sun was setting to the southwest and we had the double shades pulled; making it difficult to see the approach end of the runway. My attention was focused to the approach end of the runway; looking for my bonanza to depart; when I noticed an aircraft pass the tower departing the opposite direction runway. It is my honest assessment that the cessna did not overfly the bonanza departing opposite direction given that the cessna was established in the downwind by the time the bonanza passed the tower. I felt that complacency on my part was to blame; I should have observed the bonanza at the approach end of the runway instead of taking his word for it. The pilot couldn't read a compass; read a runway sign depicting which way the runway goes or bother to familiarize himself with an airfield layout. This is a situation that I will probably never see again in my career.I would recommend flight progress strips for all aircraft; hand written half strips for VFR guys. No one departs without one. Strips are not passed until all coordination is complete.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SDL Controller reported a ground conflict between an aircraft conducting a touch and go and another that mistakenly took of on the wrong runway in opposite direction.

Narrative: I had taken the Local position about 15 minutes prior to the incident. The Ground Controller advised me of an aircraft that had taxied out and taken a wrong turn. Ground Control advised me of an aircraft that would be holding short of the runway waiting to cross. At that time a Bonanza advised me he was holding short of the runway ready for departure. I advised Ground Control that since the Aircraft they were taxing went the wrong way; they could wait until my Bonanza departs off. I had a Cessna that was short final for a touch and go. Once I had sufficient spacing; 'Bonanza; Runway 3 cleared for takeoff' the Bonanza read back the runway cleared for takeoff. During this time of day the sun was setting to the southwest and we had the double shades pulled; making it difficult to see the approach end of the runway. My attention was focused to the approach end of the runway; looking for my Bonanza to depart; when I noticed an aircraft pass the tower departing the opposite direction runway. It is my honest assessment that the Cessna did not overfly the Bonanza departing opposite direction given that the Cessna was established in the downwind by the time the Bonanza passed the tower. I felt that complacency on my part was to blame; I should have observed the Bonanza at the approach end of the runway instead of taking his word for it. The pilot couldn't read a compass; read a runway sign depicting which way the runway goes or bother to familiarize himself with an airfield layout. This is a situation that I will probably never see again in my career.I would recommend Flight Progress Strips for all aircraft; hand written half strips for VFR guys. No one departs without one. Strips are not passed until all coordination is complete.

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.