Narrative:

At syr airport; ny; I was working local and ground control combined. An aerostar called and requested to taxi. I cleared the pilot to taxi to runway 28; the current active runway. When he reached a crossing runway 33; he requested a departure from this runway; which happened to be closed for about 30 mins prior for maintenance. This runway closure was broadcast on the ATIS. When he requested runway 33; I reclred the pilot to taxi to runway 33; then he called ready; and I cleared him for takeoff runway 33. I have these conclusions which could help prevent this error from occurring again in the future. As a controller; I was responsible to not allow any operations on this runway. I was briefed correctly by the past controller; and had a red runway closure strip in my strip bay. Those tools were utilized; but when the pilot requested this runway; I spontaneously issued this clearance. More awareness by myself; and additional controller staffing so the position wasn't combined during a time period which may have moderate traffic may decrease the potential of a future error. Increased awareness by the pilot; since he heard the ATIS stating the runway closure would also decrease recurrence. Also; a barrier sign put up by airport personnel; which ironically showed up after this situation; would have almost definitely flagged the pilot that the runway was closed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SYR LCL CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR WHEN ISSUING TKOF CLRNC FROM CLOSED RWY.

Narrative: AT SYR ARPT; NY; I WAS WORKING LCL AND GND CTL COMBINED. AN AEROSTAR CALLED AND REQUESTED TO TAXI. I CLRED THE PLT TO TAXI TO RWY 28; THE CURRENT ACTIVE RWY. WHEN HE REACHED A XING RWY 33; HE REQUESTED A DEP FROM THIS RWY; WHICH HAPPENED TO BE CLOSED FOR ABOUT 30 MINS PRIOR FOR MAINT. THIS RWY CLOSURE WAS BROADCAST ON THE ATIS. WHEN HE REQUESTED RWY 33; I RECLRED THE PLT TO TAXI TO RWY 33; THEN HE CALLED READY; AND I CLRED HIM FOR TKOF RWY 33. I HAVE THESE CONCLUSIONS WHICH COULD HELP PREVENT THIS ERROR FROM OCCURRING AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. AS A CTLR; I WAS RESPONSIBLE TO NOT ALLOW ANY OPS ON THIS RWY. I WAS BRIEFED CORRECTLY BY THE PAST CTLR; AND HAD A RED RWY CLOSURE STRIP IN MY STRIP BAY. THOSE TOOLS WERE UTILIZED; BUT WHEN THE PLT REQUESTED THIS RWY; I SPONTANEOUSLY ISSUED THIS CLRNC. MORE AWARENESS BY MYSELF; AND ADDITIONAL CTLR STAFFING SO THE POS WASN'T COMBINED DURING A TIME PERIOD WHICH MAY HAVE MODERATE TFC MAY DECREASE THE POTENTIAL OF A FUTURE ERROR. INCREASED AWARENESS BY THE PLT; SINCE HE HEARD THE ATIS STATING THE RWY CLOSURE WOULD ALSO DECREASE RECURRENCE. ALSO; A BARRIER SIGN PUT UP BY ARPT PERSONNEL; WHICH IRONICALLY SHOWED UP AFTER THIS SITUATION; WOULD HAVE ALMOST DEFINITELY FLAGGED THE PLT THAT THE RWY WAS CLOSED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.