Narrative:

At approximately XA23Z on jan/xa/06; I put a PA32 into position and hold on runway 25; waiting for aircraft to exit the runway. Aircraft X (a LR25) checked in northeast orl. I instructed aircraft X to turn direct to a 2 mi final and cleared to land. I then told aircraft to contact ground and I intended to clear aircraft Y for takeoff when several other aircraft called. Aircraft X stated 'we are landing runway 25 and there is an aircraft on the runway.' I scanned the runway and did not see an aircraft until I used the binoculars and then saw the PA32 with only his wingtip (navigation) lights on. The aircraft did not appear to have a beacon; strobe; or landing/taxi lights turned on; and the navigation lights blended in with the runway edge lights.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ORL CTLR EXPERIENCED OPERROR AFTER CLRING AN ACFT TO LAND WITH ANOTHER ACFT CLRED INTO POS AND HOLD.

Narrative: AT APPROX XA23Z ON JAN/XA/06; I PUT A PA32 INTO POS AND HOLD ON RWY 25; WAITING FOR ACFT TO EXIT THE RWY. ACFT X (A LR25) CHKED IN NE ORL. I INSTRUCTED ACFT X TO TURN DIRECT TO A 2 MI FINAL AND CLRED TO LAND. I THEN TOLD ACFT TO CONTACT GND AND I INTENDED TO CLR ACFT Y FOR TKOF WHEN SEVERAL OTHER ACFT CALLED. ACFT X STATED 'WE ARE LNDG RWY 25 AND THERE IS AN ACFT ON THE RWY.' I SCANNED THE RWY AND DID NOT SEE AN ACFT UNTIL I USED THE BINOCULARS AND THEN SAW THE PA32 WITH ONLY HIS WINGTIP (NAV) LIGHTS ON. THE ACFT DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE A BEACON; STROBE; OR LNDG/TAXI LIGHTS TURNED ON; AND THE NAV LIGHTS BLENDED IN WITH THE RWY EDGE LIGHTS.

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.