A vrb tower controller reported clearing an aircraft for takeoff and the pilot responding that they ...

Attributes
ACN	1332793
Time
Date	201602
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	VRB.Tower
State Reference	FL
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Phase	Taxi
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Landing Final Approach
Route In Use	Other Instrument Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 12
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Ground Conflict Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Clearance

Narrative:

I cleared aircraft X for take off and aircraft Y was on short final. Aircraft X responded we will hold short for the aircraft landing. At that point I instructed aircraft X to cancel takeoff clearance and hold short runway 30L. I slewed to aircraft Y on the radar and it was showing 50kts. The winds were 290 at 10 at the time. I think that aircraft Y's very slow approach speed threw of my internal clock [off] where I think he should be at compared to where he actually was. I did check the final when I cleared aircraft X and I didn't see aircraft Y. Perhaps my eye didn't pick up aircraft Y moving because of the below average approach speed and him blending in to the sky. The radar data block for aircraft Y had dropped prior to me clearing aircraft X. I think that was a small contributing factor but not an excuse.I need to more vigilant especially during high complex/traffic workloads and use my binoculars more.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A VRB Tower Controller reported clearing an aircraft for takeoff and the pilot responding that they will wait for the landing traffic. The Controller cancelled takeoff clearance and told aircraft to hold short. The Controller then went on to explain why he did not see the aircraft on short final.

Narrative: I cleared Aircraft X for take off and Aircraft Y was on short final. Aircraft X responded we will hold short for the aircraft landing. At that point I instructed Aircraft X to cancel takeoff clearance and hold short runway 30L. I slewed to Aircraft Y on the radar and it was showing 50kts. The winds were 290 at 10 at the time. I think that Aircraft Y's very slow approach speed threw of my internal clock [off] where I think he should be at compared to where he actually was. I did check the final when I cleared Aircraft X and I didn't see Aircraft Y. Perhaps my eye didn't pick up Aircraft Y moving because of the below average approach speed and him blending in to the sky. The radar data block for Aircraft Y had dropped prior to me clearing Aircraft X. I think that was a small contributing factor but not an excuse.I need to more vigilant especially during high complex/traffic workloads and use my binoculars more.

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.

A vrb tower controller reported clearing an aircraft for takeoff and the pilot responding that they will wait for the landing traffic. The controller cancelled takeoff clearance and told aircraft to hold short. The controller then went on to explain why he did not see the aircraft on short final.