Narrative:

I kept the tower open with all the positions combined. Several itinerant aircraft landed; but they did not have any parking at the main terminal. I staged these aircraft at several locations on the field. In addition; I was clearing aircraft to reposition for overnight parking; clearing GA aircraft to their fbos and issuing IFR clearances to aircraft looking to depart hpn. I was coordinating with westchester county operations about the tower visibility; gate availability; and other aspects of the operation and coordinating with N90/lga regarding PIREPS and tower visibility. Rapidly decreasing visibility conditions; down to 1/4 SM; occurred. At the time of the event; aircraft Z was holding short of taxiway foxtrot on taxiway lima. Aircraft X was holding short of runway 11 on taxiway lima. Aircraft Y was on a 7 mile final and cleared to land when aircraft X was on the opposite side of the field from the main terminal; cleared to turn right onto runway 11; cross runway 16; then turn left onto taxiway alpha; and taxi to the main terminal. Aircraft X was advised of the rapidly decreasing tower visibility and instructed to advise clear of runway 16. Aircraft Y's landing clearance was cancelled. Aircraft Y was told that they would be advised when runway 6 was clear. I waited until aircraft Y was on a 3 mile final but had not received verification of aircraft X's position. At that moment; aircraft X asked me where they were supposed to clear the runway. I asked aircraft X to confirm their current position; and they replied 'on runway 16.' aircraft Y was on a 2 mile final. I immediately cancelled aircraft Y's approach clearance and issued 'go around' procedures. Aircraft X advised they were clearing runway 16 at taxiway bravo. Recommendations; hold at least two cpcs on overtime and pay more attention to pilot read backs for their accuracy.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HPN Controller described a go around event when a taxiing aircraft failed to report clear of the landing runway; the situation complicated by very low surface visibility.

Narrative: I kept the Tower open with all the positions combined. Several itinerant aircraft landed; but they did not have any parking at the main terminal. I staged these aircraft at several locations on the field. In addition; I was clearing aircraft to reposition for overnight parking; clearing GA aircraft to their FBOs and issuing IFR clearances to aircraft looking to depart HPN. I was coordinating with Westchester County Operations about the Tower visibility; gate availability; and other aspects of the operation and coordinating with N90/LGA regarding PIREPS and Tower visibility. Rapidly decreasing visibility conditions; down to 1/4 SM; occurred. At the time of the event; Aircraft Z was holding short of Taxiway Foxtrot on Taxiway Lima. Aircraft X was holding short of Runway 11 on Taxiway Lima. Aircraft Y was on a 7 mile final and cleared to land when Aircraft X was on the opposite side of the field from the main terminal; cleared to turn right onto Runway 11; cross Runway 16; then turn left onto Taxiway Alpha; and taxi to the main terminal. Aircraft X was advised of the rapidly decreasing Tower visibility and instructed to advise clear of Runway 16. Aircraft Y's landing clearance was cancelled. Aircraft Y was told that they would be advised when Runway 6 was clear. I waited until Aircraft Y was on a 3 mile final but had not received verification of Aircraft X's position. At that moment; Aircraft X asked me where they were supposed to clear the runway. I asked Aircraft X to confirm their current position; and they replied 'on Runway 16.' Aircraft Y was on a 2 mile final. I immediately cancelled Aircraft Y's approach clearance and issued 'Go Around' procedures. Aircraft X advised they were clearing Runway 16 at Taxiway Bravo. Recommendations; hold at least two CPCs on overtime and pay more attention to pilot read backs for their accuracy.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.