Narrative:

Aircraft X started takeoff roll runway 27, while the second aircraft Y was in the intersection of runway 27 and runway 23, having landed runway 23. I observed this from the cockpit jump seat of the aircraft X. Aircraft Y rolled through the intersection and the aircraft X continued takeoff west/O further incident. The takeoff clearance had been issued prematurely; no action was taken to correct the situation. I believe the situation occurred because the controller planned to depart aircraft X prior to the arrival of aircraft Y on runway 23. However, that was not accomplished due to other traffic on runway 23. Another aircraft was approaching to land runway 27, which forced the controller to rush the takeoff clearance. This type of situation rarely happens unintentionally--rather, it is called 'anticipated sep,' even though FAA handbook 7110.65 prohibits it. Simply stated, it's cheating.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TWR LCL CTLR ISSUED TKOF CLRNC TO A DEPARTING ACFT BEFORE AN ARRIVING ACFT LNDG ON A CROSSING RWY WAS CLEAR OF THE DEP RWY.

Narrative: ACFT X STARTED TKOF ROLL RWY 27, WHILE THE SECOND ACFT Y WAS IN THE INTXN OF RWY 27 AND RWY 23, HAVING LANDED RWY 23. I OBSERVED THIS FROM THE COCKPIT JUMP SEAT OF THE ACFT X. ACFT Y ROLLED THROUGH THE INTXN AND THE ACFT X CONTINUED TKOF W/O FURTHER INCIDENT. THE TKOF CLRNC HAD BEEN ISSUED PREMATURELY; NO ACTION WAS TAKEN TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. I BELIEVE THE SITUATION OCCURRED BECAUSE THE CTLR PLANNED TO DEPART ACFT X PRIOR TO THE ARR OF ACFT Y ON RWY 23. HOWEVER, THAT WAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED DUE TO OTHER TFC ON RWY 23. ANOTHER ACFT WAS APCHING TO LAND RWY 27, WHICH FORCED THE CTLR TO RUSH THE TKOF CLRNC. THIS TYPE OF SITUATION RARELY HAPPENS UNINTENTIONALLY--RATHER, IT IS CALLED 'ANTICIPATED SEP,' EVEN THOUGH FAA HANDBOOK 7110.65 PROHIBITS IT. SIMPLY STATED, IT'S CHEATING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.