Narrative:

Aircraft X crossed the landing threshold. Then I instructed aircraft Y to line up and wait and informed them of aircraft Z on the approach behind them. I instructed aircraft X to turn right on a taxiway F; exit the runway and contact ground. After aircraft X exited I cleared aircraft Y for takeoff. When I noticed aircraft Y wasn't rolling; I realized insufficient runway separation would exist so I sent aircraft Z around on about a 3/4-1 mile final. When aircraft Z didn't respond I tried another 2 times. I attempted to switch headset jacks within the same communication console. The other local controller also attempted to key up and send aircraft Z around on his communication console; but got no response. During this time period aircraft X mistakenly transmitted on the local control frequency; like they were on the ground control frequency; checking in and requesting to taxi to their gate. I again informed aircraft X to contact ground control. The ground controller attempted numerous times to get in contact with aircraft X. Aircraft Z who was on very short final keyed up and said 'I guess we need to go around'. By then I had switched to our backup communication console and was able to confirm and instruct aircraft Z to go around.aircraft Z did over fly aircraft Y still holding in position. I believe aircraft X had a stuck transmitter on the local control frequency in their attempt to request taxi to their gate with ground control. Aircraft Z executed a self-missed approach very short final with aircraft Y holding in position. This created a very unsafe situation. The pilot should have gone around much earlier when they realized an aircraft was holding in position. The transmission power of our local control frequency needs to be reviewed. I should have been able to key over the frequency; even with an accidental stuck transmitter.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DCA Tower Controller and flight crew reported the Controller was unable to issue go-around instructions to an aircraft on short final due to another aircraft's stuck transmitter cutting out the Controller's instructions.

Narrative: Aircraft X crossed the landing threshold. Then I instructed Aircraft Y to Line Up and Wait and informed them of Aircraft Z on the approach behind them. I instructed Aircraft X to turn right on a taxiway F; exit the runway and contact ground. After Aircraft X exited I cleared Aircraft Y for takeoff. When I noticed Aircraft Y wasn't rolling; I realized insufficient runway separation would exist so I sent Aircraft Z around on about a 3/4-1 mile final. When Aircraft Z didn't respond I tried another 2 times. I attempted to switch headset jacks within the same communication console. The other Local Controller also attempted to key up and send Aircraft Z around on his communication console; but got no response. During this time period Aircraft X mistakenly transmitted on the Local Control frequency; like they were on the Ground Control frequency; checking in and requesting to taxi to their gate. I again informed Aircraft X to contact Ground Control. The Ground Controller attempted numerous times to get in contact with Aircraft X. Aircraft Z who was on very short final keyed up and said 'I guess we need to go around'. By then I had switched to our backup communication console and was able to confirm and instruct Aircraft Z to go around.Aircraft Z did over fly Aircraft Y still holding in position. I believe Aircraft X had a stuck transmitter on the Local Control frequency in their attempt to request taxi to their gate with Ground Control. Aircraft Z executed a self-missed approach very short final with Aircraft Y holding in position. This created a very unsafe situation. The pilot should have gone around much earlier when they realized an aircraft was holding in position. The transmission power of our Local Control frequency needs to be reviewed. I should have been able to key over the frequency; even with an accidental stuck transmitter.

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.