Saf controller reports opposite direction takeoff over aircraft in position before tower opens.

Attributes
ACN	618168
Time
Date	200405
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : saf.airport
State Reference	NM
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Sundowner 23
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : position and hold ground : holding
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar pilot : instrument
Experience	controller limited radar : 1 controller non radar : 3 controller time certified in position1 : 6 controller time certified in position2 : 7 flight time total : 1000
ASRS Report	618168
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe incursion : runway non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Miss Distance	vertical : 200
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airport
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

As I was preparing to open the tower at XA00, I heard 2 aircraft exchange information before departure. Aircraft X (a B190) was in position on runway 2. Aircraft Y (a BE23) was in position on runway 20. Aircraft Y asked aircraft X if he was departing. Aircraft X advised he was departing straight out to the north and asked aircraft Y his position. Aircraft Y advised he was in position. Aircraft X asked if aircraft Y was holding short of runway 20 and aircraft Y replied he was on the runway. I advised both aircraft that there was another aircraft at the opposite end of their runway. Aircraft X stated he 'had it under control' and continued his takeoff. After taking off over the BE23, aircraft X stated 'I thought you were holding short?'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SAF CTLR RPTS OPPOSITE DIRECTION TKOF OVER ACFT IN POS BEFORE TWR OPENS.

Narrative: AS I WAS PREPARING TO OPEN THE TWR AT XA00, I HEARD 2 ACFT EXCHANGE INFO BEFORE DEP. ACFT X (A B190) WAS IN POS ON RWY 2. ACFT Y (A BE23) WAS IN POS ON RWY 20. ACFT Y ASKED ACFT X IF HE WAS DEPARTING. ACFT X ADVISED HE WAS DEPARTING STRAIGHT OUT TO THE N AND ASKED ACFT Y HIS POS. ACFT Y ADVISED HE WAS IN POS. ACFT X ASKED IF ACFT Y WAS HOLDING SHORT OF RWY 20 AND ACFT Y REPLIED HE WAS ON THE RWY. I ADVISED BOTH ACFT THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER ACFT AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THEIR RWY. ACFT X STATED HE 'HAD IT UNDER CTL' AND CONTINUED HIS TKOF. AFTER TAKING OFF OVER THE BE23, ACFT X STATED 'I THOUGHT YOU WERE HOLDING SHORT?'

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.