Narrative:

Small transport X was put into position and hold on runway 23 at columbus. Traffic was small aircraft Y in right closed traffic to crossing runway 30. I informed small aircraft Y to remain in right closed traffic to avoid 'traffic departing' runway 23. Small transport X apparently mistook this for a takeoff clearance from runway 23. As small aircraft Y was on a 1 mi final for runway 30, I scanned the airport and saw that small transport X was rolling on runway 23 and was almost airborne. I instructed small aircraft Y to make 1 right 360 degree turn to avoid the traffic. The maneuver turned out to be unnecessary, but was done in the sake of safety. Small transport X did inquire if he had indeed been cleared for takeoff. I responded 'negative,' which definitely got his attention. I am sending this report in to further the cause of effective communication between pilots and controllers. If you are a pilot, ensure that indeed you have received a departure clearance (readbacks!) and if you are a controller ensure that the pilot knows of traffic that he is holding for on an operation with a crossing runway as stated in handbook 7110.65, paragraph 3-103a.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT MISUNDERSTOOD CLRNC AND DEP WITH AN SMA ON SHORT FINAL FOR A CROSSING RWY.

Narrative: SMT X WAS PUT INTO POS AND HOLD ON RWY 23 AT COLUMBUS. TFC WAS SMA Y IN RIGHT CLOSED TFC TO XING RWY 30. I INFORMED SMA Y TO REMAIN IN RIGHT CLOSED TFC TO AVOID 'TFC DEPARTING' RWY 23. SMT X APPARENTLY MISTOOK THIS FOR A TKOF CLRNC FROM RWY 23. AS SMA Y WAS ON A 1 MI FINAL FOR RWY 30, I SCANNED THE ARPT AND SAW THAT SMT X WAS ROLLING ON RWY 23 AND WAS ALMOST AIRBORNE. I INSTRUCTED SMA Y TO MAKE 1 RIGHT 360 DEG TURN TO AVOID THE TFC. THE MANEUVER TURNED OUT TO BE UNNECESSARY, BUT WAS DONE IN THE SAKE OF SAFETY. SMT X DID INQUIRE IF HE HAD INDEED BEEN CLRED FOR TKOF. I RESPONDED 'NEGATIVE,' WHICH DEFINITELY GOT HIS ATTN. I AM SENDING THIS RPT IN TO FURTHER THE CAUSE OF EFFECTIVE COM BTWN PLTS AND CTLRS. IF YOU ARE A PLT, ENSURE THAT INDEED YOU HAVE RECEIVED A DEP CLRNC (READBACKS!) AND IF YOU ARE A CTLR ENSURE THAT THE PLT KNOWS OF TFC THAT HE IS HOLDING FOR ON AN OPERATION WITH A XING RWY AS STATED IN HANDBOOK 7110.65, PARAGRAPH 3-103A.

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.