ATCT local controller fails to ensure runway clear for small aircraft X landing. Operational deviation. Aircraft Y takeoff without clearance. Pilot deviation.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	149663
Time
Date	199007
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pao
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 500 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pao tower : bos
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	landing : go around landing other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : holding
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 550 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	149663
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 400 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation Operational Deviation

Narrative:

Entered pao air traffic area VFR from east bay (leslie salt) and entered on 45 degree for right downwind runway 30. Midfield right downwind tower cleared me to land, advised there would be one departure prior to my arrival. Tower cleared one aircraft for takeoff and I turned base to land. Tower then cleared a second aircraft Y on runway in position and hold as I turned final (approximately 1 mi final). Combination of heavy radio traffic and a stuck microphone by unidented aircraft prohibited me from questioning tower action. Aircraft Y on runway began takeoff roll and tower tried to cancel takeoff clearance but pilot continued takeoff. Clear frequency time enabled me to declare go-around. I was now 'boxed in' by aircraft on takeoff climb and right downwind traffic. As tower advised me to fly right side of runway. Tower advised to turn left behind aircraft Y on climb out. I entered left traffic and landed west/O incident. 2 individuals were 'working' tower frequency and I was advised, once on the ground, that training was taking place. The airport was quite busy. Not a near miss but close traffic conflict! If tower wished to depart 2 aircraft I could've easily extended downwind!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATCT LCL CTLR FAILS TO ENSURE RWY CLEAR FOR SMA X LNDG. OPDEV. ACFT Y TKOF WITHOUT CLRNC. PLTDEV.

Narrative: ENTERED PAO ATA VFR FROM E BAY (LESLIE SALT) AND ENTERED ON 45 DEG FOR R DOWNWIND RWY 30. MIDFIELD R DOWNWIND TWR CLRED ME TO LAND, ADVISED THERE WOULD BE ONE DEP PRIOR TO MY ARR. TWR CLRED ONE ACFT FOR TKOF AND I TURNED BASE TO LAND. TWR THEN CLRED A SECOND ACFT Y ON RWY IN POS AND HOLD AS I TURNED FINAL (APPROX 1 MI FINAL). COMBINATION OF HEAVY RADIO TFC AND A STUCK MIKE BY UNIDENTED ACFT PROHIBITED ME FROM QUESTIONING TWR ACTION. ACFT Y ON RWY BEGAN TKOF ROLL AND TWR TRIED TO CANCEL TKOF CLRNC BUT PLT CONTINUED TKOF. CLR FREQ TIME ENABLED ME TO DECLARE GO-AROUND. I WAS NOW 'BOXED IN' BY ACFT ON TKOF CLB AND R DOWNWIND TFC. AS TWR ADVISED ME TO FLY R SIDE OF RWY. TWR ADVISED TO TURN L BEHIND ACFT Y ON CLB OUT. I ENTERED L TFC AND LANDED W/O INCIDENT. 2 INDIVIDUALS WERE 'WORKING' TWR FREQ AND I WAS ADVISED, ONCE ON THE GND, THAT TRNING WAS TAKING PLACE. THE ARPT WAS QUITE BUSY. NOT A NEAR MISS BUT CLOSE TFC CONFLICT! IF TWR WISHED TO DEPART 2 ACFT I COULD'VE EASILY EXTENDED DOWNWIND!

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.