Narrative:

Small aircraft X was cleared for takeoff with instructions to turn left heading 340 degree maintain 2000. I then taxied atx Y into position and hold. After observing small aircraft X turn left and clearing the departure corridor, I cleared atx Y for takeoff with runway heading to 3000'. I then instructed small aircraft X to contact departure. I had other traffic for departure and directed my attention to the approach end of the runway. I was working ground control combined at local. After clearing a subsequent aircraft for departure, I instructed atx Y to contact departure. It was at this time that the pilot of atx Y questioned me as to who was this aircraft crossing in front of him. I observed small aircraft X turning east. The pilot stated that he had to reduce his climb and power to avoid the small aircraft and I observed the 2 aircraft pass. Factors contributing to the situation: the departure controller turned small aircraft X back across the departure corridor even though the strip was clearly marked left turn 340 maintain 2000', however, I failed to write this in red as is called for in local directives. I did not have a red marker available at the time and needed to get the strip to the departure controller. The departure controller simply did not see the left turn 340 degree and turned the aircraft on initial contact to 090 degree back across the departure corridor. The tower shade was left partially down restricting visibility. Had the shade been fully retracted I may have seen the small aircraft turning back across the departure corridor.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER DEP, AN SMA WAS TURNED INTO THE FLT PATH OF A SUBSEQUENT DEP.

Narrative: SMA X WAS CLRED FOR TKOF WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO TURN LEFT HDG 340 DEG MAINTAIN 2000. I THEN TAXIED ATX Y INTO POSITION AND HOLD. AFTER OBSERVING SMA X TURN LEFT AND CLEARING THE DEP CORRIDOR, I CLRED ATX Y FOR TKOF WITH RWY HDG TO 3000'. I THEN INSTRUCTED SMA X TO CONTACT DEP. I HAD OTHER TFC FOR DEP AND DIRECTED MY ATTN TO THE APCH END OF THE RWY. I WAS WORKING GND CTL COMBINED AT LCL. AFTER CLEARING A SUBSEQUENT ACFT FOR DEP, I INSTRUCTED ATX Y TO CONTACT DEP. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT THE PLT OF ATX Y QUESTIONED ME AS TO WHO WAS THIS ACFT XING IN FRONT OF HIM. I OBSERVED SMA X TURNING E. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD TO REDUCE HIS CLIMB AND POWER TO AVOID THE SMA AND I OBSERVED THE 2 ACFT PASS. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE SITUATION: THE DEP CTLR TURNED SMA X BACK ACROSS THE DEP CORRIDOR EVEN THOUGH THE STRIP WAS CLEARLY MARKED LEFT TURN 340 MAINTAIN 2000', HOWEVER, I FAILED TO WRITE THIS IN RED AS IS CALLED FOR IN LCL DIRECTIVES. I DID NOT HAVE A RED MARKER AVAILABLE AT THE TIME AND NEEDED TO GET THE STRIP TO THE DEP CTLR. THE DEP CTLR SIMPLY DID NOT SEE THE LEFT TURN 340 DEG AND TURNED THE ACFT ON INITIAL CONTACT TO 090 DEG BACK ACROSS THE DEP CORRIDOR. THE TWR SHADE WAS LEFT PARTIALLY DOWN RESTRICTING VISIBILITY. HAD THE SHADE BEEN FULLY RETRACTED I MAY HAVE SEEN THE SMA TURNING BACK ACROSS THE DEP CORRIDOR.

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.