Small aircraft on short final came in close proximity to an opposite direction atx.

Attributes
ACN	121382
Time
Date	198908
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bhm
State Reference	AL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bhm
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	landing : go around landing other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
ASRS Report	121382
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1500 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I was working local in bhm ATC tower. Two small aircraft's were inbound from the south for right downwind entry to runway 18. Atx Y was taxiing out for opposite direction takeoff runway 36. I cleared the first small aircraft to land. Second atx Y called ready runway 36. I told him to hold short. I cleared the second small aircraft X to land runway 18. Then started coordinating for a runway 36 departure with the approach controller. Then I looked down on the runway and saw an small aircraft next to the runway (thinking it was small aircraft X that landed, but it was the first one). I cleared atx Y for takeoff runway 36 and gave him a right turn to 140 degree. Just as atx Y was lifting off, I noticed small aircraft X on final for runway 18. I realized my mistake and sent small aircraft X around. The best suggestion I have to avoid this situation in the future would be to coordinate less and to avoid opposite direction takeoffs. To scan the airport area better and better priority traffic handling.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ON SHORT FINAL CAME IN CLOSE PROX TO AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION ATX.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING LOCAL IN BHM ATC TWR. TWO SMA'S WERE INBND FROM THE S FOR RIGHT DOWNWIND ENTRY TO RWY 18. ATX Y WAS TAXIING OUT FOR OPPOSITE DIRECTION TKOF RWY 36. I CLRED THE FIRST SMA TO LAND. SECOND ATX Y CALLED READY RWY 36. I TOLD HIM TO HOLD SHORT. I CLRED THE SECOND SMA X TO LAND RWY 18. THEN STARTED COORDINATING FOR A RWY 36 DEP WITH THE APCH CTLR. THEN I LOOKED DOWN ON THE RWY AND SAW AN SMA NEXT TO THE RWY (THINKING IT WAS SMA X THAT LANDED, BUT IT WAS THE FIRST ONE). I CLRED ATX Y FOR TKOF RWY 36 AND GAVE HIM A RIGHT TURN TO 140 DEG. JUST AS ATX Y WAS LIFTING OFF, I NOTICED SMA X ON FINAL FOR RWY 18. I REALIZED MY MISTAKE AND SENT SMA X AROUND. THE BEST SUGGESTION I HAVE TO AVOID THIS SITUATION IN THE FUTURE WOULD BE TO COORDINATE LESS AND TO AVOID OPPOSITE DIRECTION TKOFS. TO SCAN THE ARPT AREA BETTER AND BETTER PRIORITY TFC HANDLING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.