Local controller described an aborted takeoff event when he cleared a landing aircraft to cross the ...

Narrative:

Air carrier X was cleared for takeoff. I leaned back to look to the east; around the local 5 radar scopes at a prior departure and returned to the asde. I crossed the aircraft at taxiway D and then south without scanning the runway. The amass alerted and I instructed the aircraft at taxiway south and D to hold their position and then went to air carrier X and saw that the aircraft was aborting and I confirmed that he was. I then instructed air carrier X to exit the runway and contact ground. I cannot figure out why I did what I did. I somehow confused air carrier Y the previous departure with air carrier X. I used the techniques for visual reminders with the flight progress strips that are prescribed and I feel that they are good. At ZZZ we cross our own runway's. This puts us on an island as far as teamwork goes. It is difficult at times to be attentive to what is happening at the position just a couple of feet away. At the time of this event; the controllers on either side of me did not recognized what I had done. I cannot say that the outcome of this would have been different if I was working local 3 and 4 combined or not. Would I have been a little more engaged do to the increased workload; or not? I also cannot see the departures when we are in an east configuration due to the height of the radar displays blocking the view.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Local Controller described an aborted takeoff event when he cleared a landing aircraft to cross the departure runway. The reporter acknowledged that he confused the two aircraft being controlled.

Narrative: Air Carrier X was cleared for takeoff. I leaned back to look to the east; around the LCL 5 RADAR scopes at a prior departure and returned to the ASDE. I crossed the aircraft at Taxiway D and then S without scanning the runway. The AMASS alerted and I instructed the aircraft at Taxiway S and D to hold their position and then went to Air Carrier X and saw that the aircraft was aborting and I confirmed that he was. I then instructed Air Carrier X to exit the runway and contact ground. I cannot figure out why I did what I did. I somehow confused Air Carrier Y the previous departure with Air Carrier X. I used the techniques for visual reminders with the flight progress strips that are prescribed and I feel that they are good. At ZZZ we cross our own runway's. This puts us on an island as far as teamwork goes. It is difficult at times to be attentive to what is happening at the position just a couple of feet away. At the time of this event; the controllers on either side of me did not recognized what I had done. I cannot say that the outcome of this would have been different if I was working LCL 3 and 4 combined or not. Would I have been a little more engaged do to the increased workload; or not? I also cannot see the departures when we are in an East configuration due to the height of the RADAR displays blocking the view.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Attributes
ACN	1017598
Time
Date	201206
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Route In Use	None
Person 1
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Ground Conflict Critical Ground Incursion Runway

Local controller described an aborted takeoff event when he cleared a landing aircraft to cross the departure runway. The reporter acknowledged that he confused the two aircraft being controlled.