Ewr ATCT local controller clears an A310 for takeoff on a closed runway.

Attributes
ACN	581206
Time
Date	200305
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 53.09 flight time total : 10700 flight time type : 1680
ASRS Report	581206
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 91.42 flight time total : 12100 flight time type : 3153.21
ASRS Report	581205
Events
Anomaly	ground encounters : person ground encounters other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Requested taxi clearance. Cleared to taxi to runway 22L. Requested to use runway 4R if available. Cleared to taxi to runway 4L. Told tower we were ready on runway 4L. Then cleared for takeoff on runway 4L. At rotation, we realized there was men and equipment on runway 4L. Departure was routine as was remainder of flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EWR ATCT LCL CTLR CLRS AN A310 FOR TKOF ON A CLOSED RWY.

Narrative: REQUESTED TAXI CLRNC. CLRED TO TAXI TO RWY 22L. REQUESTED TO USE RWY 4R IF AVAILABLE. CLRED TO TAXI TO RWY 4L. TOLD TWR WE WERE READY ON RWY 4L. THEN CLRED FOR TKOF ON RWY 4L. AT ROTATION, WE REALIZED THERE WAS MEN AND EQUIP ON RWY 4L. DEP WAS ROUTINE AS WAS REMAINDER OF FLT.

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.