Narrative:

Aircraft X was on approach to runway 22L; aircraft Z was cleared for takeoff on runway 22R from intersection whiskey. I side stepped aircraft X to runway 22R because a heavy jet was in trail and gaining on aircraft X. Aircraft Y was rolling out on runway 22L and turned off at november. I first instructed aircraft Y to hold short of runway 22R then scanned the radar and observed that aircraft X was still on a 2 mile final and I had time to get aircraft Y across runway 22R before aircraft X landed. I forgot about aircraft Z and did not pick him up on my visual scan when I went to look for aircraft X. The cab coordinator advised me that aircraft Z was rolling and I instructed aircraft Y to hold short of runway 22R; visual observation indicated that aircraft Y would not be able to stop in time. I then canceled takeoff clearance on aircraft Z and sent aircraft X around. The asde-X alerted after the takeoff aircraft Z stopped at the intersection of taxiway golf. The strip movement and placement were in accordance with the SOP; I forgot about aircraft Z. The aircraft must have been between two windows and was blocked out by the mullion between the windows. I need to move around when I scan which would allow me to pick up situations hidden behind the mullions when doing a visual scan.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EWR Controller reports of a situation where he forgets about an aircraft that is departing while he tells a landing aircraft to cross the departures runway while another aircraft is on final. Controller aborts the departure; sends the arrival around; because crossing traffic has passed the hold short bars.

Narrative: Aircraft X was on approach to Runway 22L; Aircraft Z was cleared for takeoff on Runway 22R from intersection Whiskey. I side stepped Aircraft X to Runway 22R because a heavy jet was in trail and gaining on Aircraft X. Aircraft Y was rolling out on Runway 22L and turned off at November. I first instructed Aircraft Y to hold short of Runway 22R then scanned the radar and observed that Aircraft X was still on a 2 mile final and I had time to get Aircraft Y across Runway 22R before Aircraft X landed. I forgot about Aircraft Z and did not pick him up on my visual scan when I went to look for Aircraft X. The cab coordinator advised me that Aircraft Z was rolling and I instructed Aircraft Y to hold short of Runway 22R; visual observation indicated that Aircraft Y would not be able to stop in time. I then canceled takeoff clearance on Aircraft Z and sent Aircraft X around. The ASDE-X alerted after the takeoff Aircraft Z stopped at the intersection of Taxiway Golf. The strip movement and placement were in accordance with the SOP; I forgot about Aircraft Z. The aircraft must have been between two windows and was blocked out by the mullion between the windows. I need to move around when I scan which would allow me to pick up situations hidden behind the mullions when doing a visual scan.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.